Marilyn Kay Andrews
Marilyn served as the first woman mayor of Ponca City a position she held for two terms, but that was only one of her firsts. Serving as the Chairman of Ponca City's 911 Advisory Board, Ponca City became the first city in Oklahoma to provide enhanced 911 services to its citizens. She also served as one of the founders of the Ponca City Main Street Program and was instrumental in starting dental assistance education at the Pioneer Technology Center.
Marilyn was named the Oklahoma Mayor of the Year for 1996, and the Ponca City Chamber of Commerce recognized her many years of service to the community by naming her the Citizen of the year for 2001.
Let us not forget that the statue of the Pioneer Woman depicts a woman leading the way with a bible in her hand. Marilyn was very active as an elder at First Christian Church and a leader of Church Women United. It was through her church work, that she led the organization of the Child Development Center in Ponca City.
Marilyn had a way of bringing everyone to the table and turning potentially catastrophic situations into peaceful working environments. She was a unifier for the Native American and Black communities, recruiting them to participate in the affairs of Ponca City. She also built pride and enthusiasm among the City employees, giving them an ear to voice their opinions regarding the administration of the City. She once stated, "You can't cross territories. You must remember and have faith that all parties come to the table with their own wealth of experience and expertise." She always practiced fairness, honesty, and appreciation for the other person or party. And she maintained an office at City Hall and responded to public concerns around the clock, even though the mayoral position was not paid.
At a time when Ponca City was turning a new page, Marilyn steadied the helm when a major employer downsized. She promoted the development of an Industrial Park and the creation of a one-half cent economic development sales tax to recruit new diversified industry, including the recruitment of a $40 million meat processing plant and a global business process outsourcing. She was the leading force in building a strong infrastructure that could be the stimulus to draw new industry to the area.
She commissioned the Mayor's Blue Ribbon Committee in 1996, with the specific task of formulating proposals regarding various capital improvements for the City of Ponca City. A group of 36 citizens, with various backgrounds and experience, met to attempt to formulate such a proposal. After careful consideration and study, the committee submitted recommendations in the hope that they would continue to preserve our community's unique history, as it moved forward to meet the needs of the day. And it did just that...those recommendations are still cited today.
As mayor, Marilyn contributed a great deal to the visibility of Ponca City throughout the state and in the capital. Colleagues that she worked with from other cities stated that Andrew's leadership for Ponca City in the capital qualified her to be the "Official Ambassador of Ponca City."
On a state level, she distinguished herself by her service on a number of state boards and commissions including, but not limited to, the Oklahoma Municipal League, the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, the Oklahoma Municipal Women in Government, and the State Inspectors Board. Her achievements, including positions of leadership in her profession of dentistry, are a testament to her many years of service to others. Marilyn maintained an incredible schedule in order to accomplish all that she was able to perform.
She was an enthusiast. No matter where you saw Marilyn she wore a smile on her face and literally had a song in her heart. She was not bashful and always wanted everyone to feel welcome, wherever she was... whether on the road or at home in the city she called the "Jewel on the Prairie".
Marilyn and her husband Victor were blessed with two children, Lisa and Todd, and two grandchildren. Marilyn, who passed from this life in 2009, was inducted into the Oklahoma City & Town Officials Hall of Fame posthumously.