Kisling says he was spoiled because he grew up in Burlington
Six graduate from BHS
May 26, 2021
“I grew up spoiled, but it's not like you think. I was spoiled because I grew up in Burlington,” 1990 BHS graduate Brent Kisling said to the Class of 2021 at their commencement May 14. Six graduates walked down the aisle in their purple caps and gowns and across the stage to receive their diplomas.
As commencement speaker, Kisling delivered an entertaining message to the crowd. He graduated 31 years ago and said he was known as “Chad Kisling's brother” (his younger brother). Graduating with multiple honors from OSU, he has an extensive background in commerce. When Gov. Kevin Stitt took office two years ago, he appointed Kisling as Oklahoma's Executive Director of Commerce.
“I've seen a lot,” Kisling said. He listed the Great Wall of China, Hong Kong, the streets of Paris, a boat ride down the Rhine River in Germany, met several presidents, traveled with senators, and now is working closely with Gov. Stitt.
Kisling told the audience that he was spoiled as a kid, but not in the way the word is usually used. “My boots had grey tape wrapped around them. I hid under a blanket to get into the drive-in theater to save a buck or two.”
He told with humor things that spoiled him growing up in Burlington, such as learning to shake hands with Bob Kraft; learning to support your school even if you don't have kids here from Bob and Ruth Ferrell, who opened their home/basement so kids could play pool and “keep us out of trouble;” learned to love “John Deere green” from his country neighbor Sam Schurter who also taught him ingenuity with tinkering in his shop and inventing things as he “thinks outside the box;” learned humor from Fred Graham; learned how to stack picnic tables in the street at Halloween from Brett Ackerman; learned how to socialize from his classmate Travis Miller as they endlessly drug Main Street in Kiowa; “I learned that God loves me from Virgil Eubanks at the Driftwood Christian Church. His son Jeremy led me to the Lord.” He also thanked his early day Sunday school teacher Larry Cornforth.
Kisling said that at Burlington if you are at odds with someone you learn “to tolerate” because you see the same people at church, at school, at Lion's Club, etc.
Fondly remembering his teachers, Kisling said that Mrs. Somerholder taught his letters to him; Mrs. Stuckey taught him grammar and how to diaghram a sentence; Daryl Schwerdtfeger, who was partially paralyzed in an accident while Kisling was a student taught him perseverance.
“Mr Schwerdtfeger invigorated the entire school when he came back,” Kisling said.
He learned fun with Mr. Smith on FFA trips and Mrs. Blunk on band trips. Mr. Turney taught him motivation while he learned emotion from Mrs. Barbara Davis. He thanked his family for everything – teaching him about hard work. With a laugh he said his dad, Keith, told them they only had to work half a day – from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. He told proudly that his dad's picture hangs in Oklahoma's Agriculture Hall of Fame.
“Class of 2021, the names have changed, but you've been spoiled also. You may not think so now. But 31 years from now you'll realize you were spoiled growing up in Burlington.” Kisling told the graduates his Class of 1990 were state basketball runners-up with a 33-3 record.
“We learned the fundamentals at Burlington High School.”
BHS Valedictorian and Salutatorian Comment
The BHS Class of 2021 Salutatorian Paden Allen thanked his family for their support, influence and guidance. He thanked the community and teachers for their support.
Allen told his classmates, “I challenge you to make your own path.” He said risks are always present.
Quoting one of his favorite scriptures, Romans 8:11, Allen said, “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of [a] his Spirit who lives in you.”
Allen thanked God “for my future is in His hands.”
Valedictorian Alyssa Russell thanked parents, friends, teachers and administrators for helping her classmates reach this milestone. She especially thanked “my mother.” She brought a little humor, briefly describing each member of her class of which she is the only girl.
Russel said their graduation is the result of extended hard work – dedication, determination and persistence.
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