Office of Governor Brad Henry
State of Oklahoma
State of Oklahoma
State Capitol - Oklahoma City OK 73105
(405) 521-2342
(405) 521-2342
Governor Henry Delivers Upbeat Address, Stresses Bipartisanship
January 13, 2003
(Oklahoma City) Stressing themes of family, faith, character and bipartisan cooperation, Governor Brad Henry formally kicked off his new administration Monday, taking the oath of office and delivering his inaugural address to a crowd of thousands of onlookers at the State Capitol.
Flanked by his wife and three daughters, Oklahoma's 26th chief executive assured Oklahomans that he was ready to tackle the challenges facing the state, namely the ongoing budget crisis. He urged citizens to help him by putting aside their partisan differences and working together to build a better state.
"Some of us are Democrats. Some of us are Republicans. Some of us are Independents. Above all, we must be Oklahomans first,' he told the inaugural audience. "Oklahomans have proven time and time again that we can meet a challenge and come out stronger than ever."
Despite the challenges that await the new administration, Gov. Henry struck an upbeat tone throughout his address, encouraging Oklahomans to focus on the state's many attributes. "As Oklahomans, we need to focus on our strengths and on what we have accomplished. These are the beacons of light that will guide us in the days ahead. On these strengths we will build our future," he said.
Calling his inauguration a "celebration," Gov. Henry lauded the many qualities that make Oklahoma great - its character, courage, diversity and values. He paid special homage to the families of Oklahoma, including his own, citing the support and encouragement he received from his loved ones, including his mother and late father, Charles Henry, who served as his public service mentor. The chief executive also recognized his three daughters, saying Oklahomans must create jobs and opportunities to keep its young people in state.
Perhaps the most personal tribute was reserved for his wife, First Lady Kim Henry, a longtime public school teacher in Shawnee. "Kim, I love you. And the people of Oklahoma are going to see why I do," he said.
Recognizing the tradition of public service stressed by his family, Gov. Henry also applauded the contributions of Oklahoma's public servants, especially its school teachers, referring to their profession as "the highest calling." He promised educators that he would do everything possible to give them the tools and resources that they need to do their job.
"Now more than ever, we must invest in education. Our very future depends on it," said Gov. Henry.
Gov. Henry also made it clear that the private sector would play a major role in his administration, saying he would reach out to those outside government for innovation and new solutions. "Government
serves basic and necessary functions, but it doesn't hold all the answers. This administration will look to the private sector and public-private partnerships to get the job done when government can't do it alone," he said.
Throughout his remarks, Gov. Henry emphasized the diversity and strength of Oklahoma's people, highlighting the contributions of a wide variety of individuals, from its war veterans to its private sector leaders to its artists, including inaugural dignitaries such as nationally renowned poet Scott Momaday, opera singer Leona Mitchell and the Kiowa Black Leggings Society, among others. He also cited the inspiration drawn from a Sunday night prayer service in Shawnee that brought together Oklahomans of all faiths on the eve of his inauguration.
"This inaugural is about character, and it is not in Oklahoma's character to fail... With patience, hard work, vision and pulling together, we will face the future with courage and confidence. We will emerge from these hard times as we have in the past: stronger than ever before," said Gov. Henry.
The new chief executive concluded his address with the words from a poem written specifically for the inaugural by Scott Momaday.
"Now we come in our turn. Now we come to a new destiny. Now we come to a new consecration of this holy place. Now we come in our turn. To stand on this ground between our forebears and our children. To build understanding on what has been. To build greatness on what will be."
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Flanked by his wife and three daughters, Oklahoma's 26th chief executive assured Oklahomans that he was ready to tackle the challenges facing the state, namely the ongoing budget crisis. He urged citizens to help him by putting aside their partisan differences and working together to build a better state.
"Some of us are Democrats. Some of us are Republicans. Some of us are Independents. Above all, we must be Oklahomans first,' he told the inaugural audience. "Oklahomans have proven time and time again that we can meet a challenge and come out stronger than ever."
Despite the challenges that await the new administration, Gov. Henry struck an upbeat tone throughout his address, encouraging Oklahomans to focus on the state's many attributes. "As Oklahomans, we need to focus on our strengths and on what we have accomplished. These are the beacons of light that will guide us in the days ahead. On these strengths we will build our future," he said.
Calling his inauguration a "celebration," Gov. Henry lauded the many qualities that make Oklahoma great - its character, courage, diversity and values. He paid special homage to the families of Oklahoma, including his own, citing the support and encouragement he received from his loved ones, including his mother and late father, Charles Henry, who served as his public service mentor. The chief executive also recognized his three daughters, saying Oklahomans must create jobs and opportunities to keep its young people in state.
Perhaps the most personal tribute was reserved for his wife, First Lady Kim Henry, a longtime public school teacher in Shawnee. "Kim, I love you. And the people of Oklahoma are going to see why I do," he said.
Recognizing the tradition of public service stressed by his family, Gov. Henry also applauded the contributions of Oklahoma's public servants, especially its school teachers, referring to their profession as "the highest calling." He promised educators that he would do everything possible to give them the tools and resources that they need to do their job.
"Now more than ever, we must invest in education. Our very future depends on it," said Gov. Henry.
Gov. Henry also made it clear that the private sector would play a major role in his administration, saying he would reach out to those outside government for innovation and new solutions. "Government
serves basic and necessary functions, but it doesn't hold all the answers. This administration will look to the private sector and public-private partnerships to get the job done when government can't do it alone," he said.
Throughout his remarks, Gov. Henry emphasized the diversity and strength of Oklahoma's people, highlighting the contributions of a wide variety of individuals, from its war veterans to its private sector leaders to its artists, including inaugural dignitaries such as nationally renowned poet Scott Momaday, opera singer Leona Mitchell and the Kiowa Black Leggings Society, among others. He also cited the inspiration drawn from a Sunday night prayer service in Shawnee that brought together Oklahomans of all faiths on the eve of his inauguration.
"This inaugural is about character, and it is not in Oklahoma's character to fail... With patience, hard work, vision and pulling together, we will face the future with courage and confidence. We will emerge from these hard times as we have in the past: stronger than ever before," said Gov. Henry.
The new chief executive concluded his address with the words from a poem written specifically for the inaugural by Scott Momaday.
"Now we come in our turn. Now we come to a new destiny. Now we come to a new consecration of this holy place. Now we come in our turn. To stand on this ground between our forebears and our children. To build understanding on what has been. To build greatness on what will be."
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