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A special VIP, invitation-only Sonic Night reception will be held tonight at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center to honor the late Troy Smith, his wife, Dollie, and the Sonic Corporation.
“For years and years and years, Mr. [George] Webster helped with promotion of the rodeo and he wasn’t available this year, so Mike Jackson [Expo operations manager] asked if I could help,” Dr. Joe Taron said. “I told him I’d consider it and get back to him. I thought a lot about it and thought we have some really neat things that have come out of Shawnee, so I said I’d do it.”
Taron said in helping with the promotion of the International Finals Youth Rodeo, he thought it would be a good idea to honor some of the people who have contributed to the success of both Shawnee and the IFYR. The reception is different than and in addition to an IFYR Hall of Fame induction ceremony that is held every two years at the Expo, he said.
Taron said after a lot of consideration and discussions with a committee at the IFYR, it was decided Smith would be the first honoree.
“Troy Smith started Sonic here in Shawnee; he was a resident of Shawnee; and he started the Brown Derby on Kickapoo Street,” Taron said. “There is a pretty significant number of people making a living with Sonic, so we believed it would be a good thing to pay tribute to Troy Smith and Sonic.”
Taron said others will be honored in upcoming years, as well.
“We intend, as soon as this year’s rodeo is over, to begin work on next year’s VIP,” he said. “There’s so many significant contributors to Shawnee. It’s difficult to know who all to honor next.”
Taron said several local Sonic Drive-Ins will sponsor the reception this year. And sponsors can change each year, depending on who the next honoree is.
“This serves two important purposes,” Taron said. “It tells them we really appreciate what they’ve done and it gives a venue for having these at the Expo.”
A special VIP, invitation-only Sonic Night reception will be held tonight at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center to honor the late Troy Smith, his wife, Dollie, and the Sonic Corporation.
“For years and years and years, Mr. [George] Webster helped with promotion of the rodeo and he wasn’t available this year, so Mike Jackson [Expo operations manager] asked if I could help,” Dr. Joe Taron said. “I told him I’d consider it and get back to him. I thought a lot about it and thought we have some really neat things that have come out of Shawnee, so I said I’d do it.”
Taron said in helping with the promotion of the International Finals Youth Rodeo, he thought it would be a good idea to honor some of the people who have contributed to the success of both Shawnee and the IFYR. The reception is different than and in addition to an IFYR Hall of Fame induction ceremony that is held every two years at the Expo, he said.
Taron said after a lot of consideration and discussions with a committee at the IFYR, it was decided Smith would be the first honoree.
“Troy Smith started Sonic here in Shawnee; he was a resident of Shawnee; and he started the Brown Derby on Kickapoo Street,” Taron said. “There is a pretty significant number of people making a living with Sonic, so we believed it would be a good thing to pay tribute to Troy Smith and Sonic.”
Taron said others will be honored in upcoming years, as well.
“We intend, as soon as this year’s rodeo is over, to begin work on next year’s VIP,” he said. “There’s so many significant contributors to Shawnee. It’s difficult to know who all to honor next.”
Taron said several local Sonic Drive-Ins will sponsor the reception this year. And sponsors can change each year, depending on who the next honoree is.
“This serves two important purposes,” Taron said. “It tells them we really appreciate what they’ve done and it gives a venue for having these at the Expo.”
