If one stands at the corner street light opposite of Peoples National Bank, one can see the newest mural above the main bank. It simply states CHECOTAH.
Chairman/CEO of PNB Robert Jennings came up with the idea after they had another large mural done in their parking lot area off Gentry. Now there’s one off Broadway.
“All of the murals have personal meanings to me,” Jennings said. “From putting four kids through Checotah Schools to coming down I-40 and seeing the Checotah water tower, I feel like there’s no place like Checotah, Oklahoma. I love our town and People National Bank is com-
COURTESY PHOTO
mitted to Checotah from
PNB CEO Robert Jennings and artist Kim Morris pose in front of their newest creation – the CHECOTAH mural above the main bank on Broadway.
shopping locally to banking locally. We have so many wonderful and talented people from Checotah and the surrounding communities. It’s just amazing.
We loved what Kim Morris did on our parking lot mural in June. The scissortail is such a beautiful bird and of course our state bird. So we knew we had to get her to do more murals.
Morris has literally been painting the town with murals on buildings, inside businesses, on business windows downtown and inside classrooms, churches, daycares and more.
Jennings stated it was nice to have a lot to choose from when considering what each letter should represent. Here was his final take on each letter: C – Checotah Schools How do you not begin with Checotah Public Schools and what it has done to nurture our youth through the years? They are readied to compete on a local, state, national, and international level due to wonderful teachers and administrators that have given so much. That coupled with a caring community and progressive city government, makes our town a great place to live.
H – Heritage
Mestizo and Yahvlane (Creek for coyote) are located at the PNB drive-in. They represent our Checotah and Creek Nation heritage. The Blue Buffalo is located in Veterans Park. It is the fifth of 100 placed in Oklahoma celebrating the centennial. The buffalo was painted blue by Betty Working with help from the late Kathy Jennings and Matthew Jennings. It was recently repainted by Mrs. Working and Jennings children. The statutes were donated by Peoples National Bank and Lee and Mary Stidham. E – Era of Time The Battle of Honey Springs represents the largest battle to occur in Indian Territory during the Civil War. Today it has become a tourist destination and is visited by numerous guests observing its history in the new Visitors’ Center.
C – Creek Nation
Seal of the Creek Nation. Checotah is located within the Creek Nation and it reflects the importance of our tribes in our local community and state that transcends not only for tribal citizens, but for our entire state.
O – Oklahoma
The Flag of the Great State of Oklahoma. The 46th state to join the union. The state legislature approved the design in 1925 that symbolizes a “people united in peace.”
It has become a custom to stand and clap when singing the state song of “OKLAHOMA!”
T – Train Station
The train helped to develop the west and Oklahoma. Communities sprang up along railway lines throughout the area. The Katy Depot was relocated west of town next to US Highway 69 and provides history to many travelers.
A – Area Rodeos and Cowboys Rodeo and cowboy notoriety is synonymous with Checotah. They go hand in hand. Checotah is often noted as the Steer Capital of the World.
H – Highway 69
Lastly, Checotah is strategically located at the intersection of US Highway 69 and Interstate 40. Both are major transportation routes from coast to coast and from Canada to Mexico. Most importantly, that little intersection means YOU ARE HOME!
