Sand Springs Salvation Army breaks ground on parking lot project

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Pictured left-to-right: Brian Smejkal, Terry Young, Lt. Zachary Good, Lt. Breann Good, Mary Bechtold, Maj. Mark Harwell, Eddie Dunham, Charlie Durham, Ryan Quattrocchi, Brian Jackson, Richard White.

The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club of Sand Springs will be getting a fresh parking lot next month thanks to generous community donors. Dunham’s Asphalt Services will be covering half the cost of a new overlay project, and other local organizations and philanthropists have stepped up to pay for the remainder.

Montie and Betty Box (Montie Box Realty), Brian and Cary Smejkal (BubbleTown Carwashes), the Sand Springs Home, and BancFirst Sand Springs have all made contributions to help improve the safety and aesthetic appeal of the Salvation Army branch at 4403 South 129th West Avenue.

The Salvation Army offers after-school care, summer day camp, youth athletics, swimming lessons, and water aerobics, but the current parking lot has been a safety issue for the children and elderly clientele who struggle with navigating the uneven surface and potholes.

Donors and Salvation Army officials gathered Thursday for a ceremonial ground-breaking event, but the actual construction will begin in October. Angus Church, next-door to Salvation Army, has volunteered to make their parking lot available while the Salvation Army’s is under construction.

“I’m honored to have had the opportunity to work with City Councilman Brian Jackson, as well as all of the other key players involved in spearheading this donation for The Salvation Army Sand Springs Corps,” said Ryan Quattrocchi, Project Manager for Dunham’s Asphalt Services, Inc. “As a former Sandite, playing football on those same fields I see today just 15 years ago, it’s gratifying to be with a company that places importance on taking care of their community and surreal to be in the position I am today to be able to give back to this non-profit in the hometown where I grew up. The Salvation Army will always hold a special place in my heart and we hope they’ll be more than pleased with their new parking lot and trust our donation will pave the way for a bigger and brighter future for the youth of Sand Springs and the community as a whole.”  

 “We take pride in serving this great community and we are very grateful to the generous donors who are making it possible for us to move forward with a parking lot project at The Salvation Army Sand Springs Corps and Boys & Girls Club,” said Lieutenant Breann Good. “Our entire parking lot is getting a facelift and not only will this enhance the appearance of our facilities but it will make it safer for the seniors who come to swim and for everyone who attends our programs.”

For more information on the Salvation Army visit https://www.salarmytulsa.org/boys-girls-club-sand-springs/

Salvation Army banquet raises $21,000 for new playground

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Montie Box is honored by the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club with an award.

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club of Sand Springs honored longtime Sand Springs entrepreneur and philanthropist Montie Box with a banquet at Hillspring Church Tuesday night. The event also served as a fundraiser for new playground equipment for the Salvation Army facility and succeeded in raising over $21,000.

Stan Clark, founder and owner of Eskimo Joe's, was the keynote speaker, and several other community leaders also spoke at the Army of Stars Banquet. 

Eskimo Joe's founder Stan Clark was the keynote speaker at the Army of Stars Banquet.

Advisory Council Chairman Bob Anderson introduced the man of honor and read off his seemingly never-ending list of accomplishments. Box was then presented proclamations from the City of Sand Springs and the State of Oklahoma from Mayor Mike Burdge and Councilman Phil Nollan, respectively. Nollan presented the State proclamation on behalf of his wife, District 66 Representative Jadine Nollan, who was away at the Capitol. Senator Dan Newberry also gave an address honoring Box. 

Attendance at the event was $40 a chair and had more than 100 in attendance. The event concluded with a silent auction that generated more than $4,000 in addition to donations taken earlier in the night. 

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Montie Box is a long-time Sand Springs resident with more than half a century of real estate experience. He founded Montie Box Co. in 1958 after graduating from Oklahoma A&M, now Oklahoma State University. He served in the army during the Korean Conflict with the rank of First Lieutenant. 

In 1973 he was named Oklahoma Realtor of the Year. In 1988 he was awarded the Sand Springs Education Association Friend of Education recognition. He was a founding member of the Sand Springs Education Foundation in 1990. In 1992 he was given the honor of life membership on the Tulsa Boys' Home Board of Directors as well as the SS Education Foundation. That same year he was inducted into the Sand Springs Education Hall of Fame. In 1995 he was named Sand Springs Hometown Hero. In 1998 he received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of Realtors, which is considered to be the highest honor a realtor can receive and he is a member of the NAR Hall of Fame.

Senator Dan Newberry addresses the crowd and honors Montie Box. Newberry is currently running for reelection against City Councilman Brian Jackson.

He served as a regent for Tulsa Community College from 1995-2006 and was the Chairman from 1996-1997. In 2009 he received the Vision in Education Award from TCC. 

His involvement with the Salvation Army goes back 61 years. He was instrumental in getting the new facility built in 1978 at its current location in Sand Springs. He is a life member of the Sand Springs Advisory Council, which is a prestigious appointment only available to members with a minimum of 15 years of outstanding service. He is a former coach and manager of Tulsa and Sand Springs Pee Wee Wrestling and he has served as Ringmaster at the Tulsa State Fair Livestock Auction. 

Lieutenant David Brittle also announced that Box had been confirmed as the 2016 recipient of the prestigious William Booth Award, which is one of the highest honors given by the Salvation Army. He will receive that award in the near future.

Montie Box honored at Salvation Army banquet

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Montie Box is honored by the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club with an award.

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club of Sand Springs honored longtime Sand Springs entrepreneur and philanthropist Montie Box with a banquet at Hillspring Church Tuesday night. The event also served as a fundraiser for new playground equipment for the Salvation Army facility. 

Stan Clark, founder and owner of Eskimo Joe's, was the keynote speaker, and several other community leaders also spoke at the Army of Stars Banquet. 

Eskimo Joe's founder Stan Clark was the keynote speaker at the Army of Stars Banquet.

Advisory Council Chairman Bob Anderson introduced the man of honor and read off his seemingly never-ending list of accomplishments. Box was then presented proclamations from the City of Sand Springs and the State of Oklahoma from Mayor Mike Burdge and Councilman Phil Nollan, respectively. Nollan presented the State proclamation on behalf of his wife, District 66 Representative Jadine Nollan, who was away at the Capitol. Senator Dan Newberry also gave an address honoring Box. 

Attendance at the event was $40 a chair and had more than 100 in attendance. The event concluded with a silent auction that generated more than $4,000 in addition to donations taken earlier in the night. 

Morgan's Relax Packs are handcrafted customizable heat/cold packs designed for maximum relief at affordable pricing.

Montie Box is a long-time Sand Springs resident with more than half a century of real estate experience. He founded Montie Box Co. in 1958 after graduating from Oklahoma A&M, now Oklahoma State University. He served in the army during the Korean Conflict with the rank of First Lieutenant. 

In 1973 he was named Oklahoma Realtor of the Year. In 1988 he was awarded the Sand Springs Education Association Friend of Education recognition. He was a founding member of the Sand Springs Education Foundation in 1990. In 1992 he was given the honor of life membership on the Tulsa Boys' Home Board of Directors as well as the SS Education Foundation. That same year he was inducted into the Sand Springs Education Hall of Fame. In 1995 he was named Sand Springs Hometown Hero. In 1998 he received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of Realtors, which is considered to be the highest honor a realtor can receive and he is a member of the NAR Hall of Fame.

Senator Dan Newberry addresses the crowd and honors Montie Box. Newberry is currently running for reelection against outgoing Superintendent Lloyd Snow.

He served as a regent for Tulsa Community College from 1995-2006 and was the Chairman from 1996-1997. In 2009 he received the Vision in Education Award from TCC. 

His involvement with the Salvation Army goes back 61 years. He was instrumental in getting the new facility built in 1978 at its current location in Sand Springs. He is a life member of the Sand Springs Advisory Council, which is a prestigious appointment only available to members with a minimum of 15 years of outstanding service. He is a former coach and manager of Tulsa and Sand Springs Pee Wee Wrestling and he has served as Ringmaster at the Tulsa State Fair Livestock Auction. 

Lieutenant David Brittle also announced that Box had been confirmed as the 2016 recipient of the prestigious William Booth Award, which is one of the highest honors given by the Salvation Army. He will receive that award in the near future.