Storyteller: Joe Parks

Interviewer: Bertalot, Lorretta

Language: English

Initiative: Tulsans Talk

Description: Joe tells about becoming an electrician and training Tulsa's first woman electrician apprentice. He remembers experiences while working as a Tulsa City Parks electrician. While weighing 200 lb and smoking 2 packs of cigarettes a day he began running and soon ran the Boston Marathon. Today he publishes a website called the Oklahoma Running Glory Years featuring many photos from Dan Vasiciek and unites senior runners for a monthly breakfast.

Subjects: Preparation for City Parks events: concerts, Pow Wow, ball parks Going from 200 lb and smoking 2 packs of cigarettes a day to a committed runner who finished the Boston Marathon Proud of determined women: his mother and Beverly Wilson