Car city loan new oklahoma

Desert Storm. CNN. Rodney King. AIDS. The Silence of the Lambs. Perot. The fall of the USSR. Waco. Nirvana. NAFTA. Rush Limbaugh. Cheers. O.J. The bombing. Windows. Whitney. Mariah. The Unabomber. The New Economy. Cell phones. E-mail. Seinfeld. Heaven's Gate. Clinton. Monica. Web surfing. Y2K. Pokemon.

The '90s brought a tremendous change of fortune for the nation. America triumphed gloriously in war, though Saddam remained in power, and U.S. business acumen again took charge in leading the world's economy forward. Not that there weren't troubles along the way. The Bush administration estimated it would cost $130 billion to bail out the savings and loan industry; Congress approved half that. The Clintons pressed for health care reforms. Telephone deregulation spurred AT&T to break itself up, while the government challenged Microsoft's near monopoly.

Beauty and the Beast showed animated characters could out-act real people. Vice President Dan Quayle defended family values in attacking Murphy Brown, in which Candice Bergen's character chose to be a single mother. Broadcast TV began to lose large numbers of viewers to cable-only channels. In a single year, film viewers saw the full genius of Steven Spielberg with Jurassic Park and Schindler's List. Mike Tyson dominated boxing, Michael Jordan soared in hoops, Mark McGwire broke a record thought untouchable, the Dallas Cowboys and New York Yankees returned to glory and Tiger Woods took over pro golf. Saving Private Ryan reminded Americans of the sacrifices made in WWII. The troubled production Titanic became the biggest film ever. And everyone struggled just to figure out how to make money on the Web.

Closer to home, the new firm Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group relocated from Los Angeles to Tulsa. Williams Cos. sold its fiber-optic network, then moved to re-enter the broadband industry. Purcell's Hotel Love, which flourished from 1896 to 1975, was renovated into an antique shop and bed and breakfast.

And in The Journal Record marketplace, University of Oklahoma law professor Anita Hill electrified a national television audience by telling the U.S. Senate of sexual harassment charges against future Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Garth Brooks proved country artists could dominate the pop music industry. Oklahoma City University's Shawntel Smith won the Miss America title. Bob Stoops ended an era of ineptitude at Owen Field. And Oklahoma County voters came together twice to invest in their future - with fabulous results.

1990

On Jan. 25, officials with UAL, the parent of United Airlines, officially announced plans to build the long-rumored $500 million maintenance center. Oklahoma City and Fort Worth, the final contestants in the '89 American Airlines derby, were considered front- runners, along with Denver and San Francisco. After watching how the past efforts became public bidding wars in the press, Mayor Ron Norick vowed to keep Oklahoma City's offer secret. On March 26, United Airlines officials said Oklahoma City was on the short list of areas in contention for the proposed maintenance plant. On April 6, the Oklahoma Legislature approved a tax credit bill for the proposed United Airlines facility. Gov. Henry Bellmon vetoed the bill on May 10, fearing abuse of the trust law changes, so 12 days later the Legislature tried again.

On May 11, Devon Energy bought more interests in New Mexico coal-seam natural gas plays, a field that enjoyed subsidies from Congress. This made Devon the second-largest holding in the prolific Northeast Blanco unit of the San Juan Basin. On July 2, with natural gas prices slumping, Devon Energy cut by half its net coal-seam gas production in New Mexico.

In June, ending 22 years as an Oklahoma City firm, Mr. Rooter moved its headquarters and subsidiaries to Waco, Texas. This allowed it to consolidate management operations with other firms owned by parent Dwyer Group. Donald J. Dwyer had bought controlling interest in Mr. Rooter in April 1989.

On June 28, Wal-Mart announced plans to begin expanding its Oklahoma stores to relocating them to larger, more modern locations. Within a year this would impact three Oklahoma City area stores. By 1991, the year Wal-Mart emerged as the world's largest retailer, the chain would have 81 stores in Oklahoma, including three Sam's and 10 Wal-Marts in the Oklahoma City area.

On July 5, with a large tract of land set aside for a major addition to Will Rogers World Airport, Oklahoma City was said to have survived on the short list of cities in contention for the proposed United Airlines maintenance facility. Analysts suggested a decision could be made by October, and when that passed, by November.

On Aug. 17, Local Federal Savings and Loan acquired two failed thrifts: the Duncan Savings and Loan and Great Plains Saving Association. The $790,000 total deal brought Local Federal six branches, bringing its total to 40. A month later, Local Federal obtained a federal savings bank charter.

On Oct. 6, Kerr-McGee reached an agreement to sell its transocean contract drilling holdings to Aker Drilling of Norway for $210 million. Four days later Kerr-McGee completed the sale of Mr. Mac, its largest offshore rig, for $84 million. The North Sea jack- up rig could drill to a depth of 30,000 feet in 328 feet of water.

On Oct. 28, Samuel Gordon Jewelers opened its 12,000-square- foot "superstore" at 5521 N. Pennsylvania. The converted tire store drew national attention for its unique design by architect Rand Elliott. President Gary Gordon, who had closed the chain's three other stores to merge into the superstore, called it the completion of his father's original designs. "It literally took 86 years to realize this dream. We now have the guild jewelry store that my father often talked about."

In November, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Oklahoma City approved a settlement in a case filed by a First Penn Corp. trustee against Peat Marwick Mitchell & Co., marking the last in a long series of lawsuits involving the failed Penn Square Bank.

In November, several teams of United Airlines officials visited Will Rogers World Airport.

On Dec. 3, Kerr-McGee completed the sale of its soda products unit to North American Chemical for $210 million.

On Dec. 11, Oklahoma City leaders attended a working session on other candidates for the proposed United Airlines maintenance center. A decision was expected by the end of the year. But nine days later, United officials postponed their decision beyond New Year's Day, leaving up in the air where to build a $500 million facility. As more cities began to compete for the prize, United raised the stakes, and the prize.

In 1990, Tom Anthony, a grandson of C.R. Anthony, founded the Trends Express clothing retailer, selling only Levi Straus products. It grew into a five-store chain.

After 44 years of cooking steaks at the historic Cattlemen's Cafe, Gene Wade sold the Stockyards restaurant operations in '90 to Dick Stubbs. It now employs 170.

In 1990, the Central Oklahoma United Methodist Retirement Facility Inc. opened Epworth Villa at 14901 N. Pennsylvania. Expanded 12 years later to offer state-of-the-art facilities for Alzheimer's patients, it now is home to more than 350 senior adults.

Business partners Dennis Brunner and Kelly J. McNitt launched KJ McNitt Construction. McNitt later departed the firm, which changed its name in 2002 to the Landmark Construction Group.

In 1990, Teresa and Bill Moisant founded the Moisant & Co., offering promotional products and advertising specialties. Now known as Moisant Promotional Products, the Oklahoma City firm employs 12.

1991

On Jan. 2, MidFirst Bank SSB opened six branch offices acquired from Globe Savings Bank of El Reno. This gave the 9-year-old savings bank 22 offices with assets of $940 million and deposits of $815 million.

On Jan. 10, incoming Gov. David Walters called a special session of the Legislature to consider legislation to help Oklahoma City win the contest for a $1 billion United Airlines maintenance facility. At stake: up to 8,000 jobs. The lawmakers met on Jan. 14, the day of Walters' inauguration, and within five days approved both a county vote on a sales tax hike and tax incentives valued at up to $8 million.

On Jan. 15, Kerr-McGee sold its contract drilling business to Noble Drilling for $75 million.

On Jan. 29, the Fleming Cos. announced a deal to acquire distribution centers in El Paso and Lubbock, Texas, from Furr's in Lubbock. The deal was expected to boost Fleming's annual sales by $650 million.

In January, St. Anthony opened the Oklahoma Neurosurgical Institute Spine Center. Over the next 18 months the center would treat 1,900 patients, "and less than 10 percent have had surgery," said director Stan Pelofsky.