As Oklahomans flock to the State Fair over the next two weeks, they’ll be able to admire a new statue of a lesser-known Oklahoma figure: C.G. Jones.
Charles Gasham “Gristlemill” Jones was Oklahoma City’s fourth official mayor, first elected in 1896. Jones worked to bring electricity, a flour mill and railroads to Oklahoma City. As an agricultural entrepreneur, Jones was involved in starting the Oklahoma Territorial Fair, which would later become the State Fair, to feature local businesses.
“We have a lot of unsung heroes here in Oklahoma that were instrumental in the state becoming a state,” said LaQuincey Reed, the artist behind Jones’ statue…