Presenters Announced for Profiles and Perspectives 2003-04

ARDMORE — The Noble Foundation is pleased to announce the speakers for the 2003-2004 Profiles and Perspectives community enrichment series. The programs, which are free and open to the public, will begin at 7 p.m. at the Charles B. Goddard Center in Ardmore.

"We are honored to have secured several high-quality speakers from varied backgrounds for the sixth Profiles and Perspectives series," said Mary Kate Heltzel, chair of the Profiles and Perspectives Committee. "I believe that the speakers' unique stories will appeal to all residents in the area, and we are excited to be able to present these programs to the c

Chief Richard Picciotto, the highest-ranking New York City firefighter to survive the World Trade Center collapse and the last fireman to escape the devastation, will begin the series on Thursday, Sept. 25. Picciotto was on a stairwell between the sixth and seventh floors of the North Tower when it collapsed on September 11th. He will share an outspoken account of his experience.

A professor of letters at the University of Oklahoma, Dr. Danney Goble is a native Oklahoman, descended from pioneers who settled the Indian Territory and Oklahoma Territory before 1900. Modeled upon the radio broadcasts of Paul Harvey, Goble will share a number of vignettes regarding Oklahomans and their deeds in a program entitled "The Rest of Oklahoma's Story" on November 20.

Lowell Catlett is a full-time Regent's Professor at New Mexico State University and well-respected futurist who has a unique understanding of evolving technologies and their implications on how we live and work. He works internationally with corporations, organizations and the government in the area of futurist planning. He will share his expertise in a program scheduled for February 26, 2004.

Much like the mythical Phoenix rising from the flames, Dr. Greg Walton survived a devastating oil field fire that resulted in severe burns to more than 75 percent of his body. A determined, outgoing individual, Walton went on to develop the courage to live a full and successful life. Walton will close out the series with his personal story "Out of the Flame — Surviving Was Easy, the Challenge Was Living" on March 25, 2004.

"This year's Profiles and Perspectives' speakers are a diverse and gifted group," said Michael A. Cawley, Noble Foundation president. "Through their tales of survival to their visions of the future, these presenters will educate, entertain and enlighten people in the Ardmore area."

Heltzel added that she welcomes suggestions for future speakers from the community.

"Many of our previous guests have been suggested by members of the audience, so everyone should feel free to call or e-mail me with the names of individuals they would find interesting," she said.

For more information about the series, or to suggest a speaker, go to www.noble.org/profiles on the Web, e-mail mkheltzel@noble.org or call (580) 224-6246.

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Photos:
Richard Picciotto		Dr. Danney Goble		Dr. Lowell Catlett		Dr. Greg Walton

Photos/Submitted by the presenters

The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, headquartered in Ardmore, Okla., is a non-profit organization conducting agricultural, forage biotechnological, and plant biology research; providing grants to numerous non-profit charitable, educational and health organizations; and assisting farmers and ranchers through educational and consultative agricultural programs.

To learn more, visit the Noble Foundation Web site at http://www.noble.org.

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