Kudos to the Ponca City Park Department for keeping the city’s flower beds looking splendid when the temperatures in Ponca City have reached the high 90’s with the heat index over 100 degrees. On the lawn of city hall is the E.W. Marland statue that originally sat on the grounds of the Marland estate and was then donated to Ponca City by his widow, Lydie Marland in 1951. E.W. Marland, 1874 – 1941, Pioneer Oil Developer, Philanthropist & Humanitarian. Leader in developing the economy, culture, and beauty of Ponca City. Donor of the Pioneer Woman Statue, Governor of Oklahoma, and United States Congressman. Marland loved art, particularly sculpture, and commissioned Jo Davidson to create statues of himself and his adopted children George and Lydie. (Photo by Darlene Engelking)