TULSA, Okla. - Oct. 12, 2007 - ONEOK, Inc. today unveiled a painting in the lower level of its headquarters building to mark the first year of its second century as an Oklahoma-based energy company. The painting was commissioned by the company in connection with its 100th anniversary - celebrated on Oct. 12, 2006 - as a gift to employees and to recognize the contributions of employees who were integral to the company's success and growth over the last century.
The 18- by 7-foot oil painting, titled "Crossing the Deep Fork," by nationally known artist Wayne Cooper of Depew, Okla., depicts a major pipeline construction project in the early 1940s when horses still pulled sections of pipe into place while workers used carbide welders to fuse the sections together.
"This beautiful piece of art captures the essence of ONEOK's history, reflecting the hard work and commitment of our employees," said ONEOK Chairman David Kyle. "We dedicate this painting to our employees - past, present and future - so that they may be inspired by our company's legacy as we embark on another century of service."
In March 2006, another ONEOK-commissioned painting by Cooper was dedicated inside the Oklahoma State Capitol. The 7-by 9-foot painting, titled "The Magic of Petroleum," depicts Native Americans at a stream where a petroleum outcropping is evident.
After studying art at Valparaiso University in Indiana, Cooper painted in Chicago and New York City before returning to Oklahoma. This latest piece commissioned by ONEOK is Cooper's largest ever. It will enrich Tulsa's art scene and add to Cooper's work on display at Gilcrease Museum, Woolaroc and other museums in the region.
To download a photo of the painting, please use the following link: http://www.oneok.com/ONEOK_Centennial_Painting.jpg.
ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE: OKE) is a diversified energy company. We are the general partner and own 45.7 percent of ONEOK Partners, L.P. (NYSE: OKS), one of the largest publicly traded limited partnerships, which is a leader in the gathering, processing, storage and transportation of natural gas in the U.S. and owns one of the nation's premier natural gas liquids (NGL) systems, connecting much of the natural gas and NGL supply in the Mid-Continent with key market centers. ONEOK is among the largest natural gas distributors in the United States, serving more than 2 million customers in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas. Our energy services operation focuses primarily on marketing natural gas and related services throughout the U.S. ONEOK is a Fortune 500 company.
For information about ONEOK, Inc. visit the Web site: www.oneok.com.
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