Norman proudly recogizes its black history

The first African American couple to purchase a home in Norman accepted the City of Norman's black history month proclamation.

George and Barbara Henderson were presented the official proclamation stating the month of February as Black History Month in Norman by Mayor Cindy Rosenthal at the Feb. 10 City Council meeting.

"We did not know that Norman was a 'sundown town;' if we did, we might have not gotten a house here," G. Henderson said. "The fact that we stayed here is a tribute to Norman; this is home."

The Hendersons have been residences of Norman since 1967, where B. Henderson became the first chair of the Norman Humans Rights Commission and G. Henderson became an esteemed faculty member of OU.

G. Henderson said as a community, Norman is better than it was yesterday and that he hopes it will continue to be so.

**Norman City Council prepares for its Feb. 10 meeting. Photo by: The Oklahoma Daily's Michelle Gray**

New trail connects north Norman to campus

A new bike and pedestrian trail is scheduled to be extended this summer along East Duffy Street near Campus Corner, connecting Campus Corner to north Norman.

More than 20 residents voiced their opinions about the extension that will be constructed practically in some of their front yards Thursday at the Norman City Hall Complex.

“Right now, I’m just trying to weigh out the pros and the cons of [the extension],” said Liz Jackson, a resident who’s property will be used in the project.

The trail, called the Legacy Trail, will replace old sidewalks from the intersection of Duffy Street and Jenkins Avenue with wider paths along the south side of Duffy Street and along the east side of Asp Avenue between Duffy Street and Campus Corner.

The second meeting was scheduled for March 2, but might be delayed because the first meeting was delayed during the ice storm, Norman Parks Planner James Briggs said. If it is rescheduled, it is still expected to be in early March, he said.

**Paul Stickley, CH Guernsey & Company engineer, talks about trail logistics to Norman residents. Photo by The Oklahoma Daily's Merrill Jones**