Norman woman designs shirt for centennial at author's request

NORMAN - Suzy Canon of Suzy's Creations, 753 Asp Ave., has had reason to consider whether there is a precise shade of blue for the Oklahoma flag.

"Sometimes it's kind of a light blue, and then sometimes it's kind of a faded blue," Canon said.

The flag color became an issue when Norman author Molly Levite Griffis enlisted Canon in her latest project, a slogan promoting Oklahoma's centennial, Nov. 16, 2007.

The shirts bear an outline of the state, Griffis' copyrighted slogan, "Oklahoma's Heaven in 2007" and the statehood date. The back of the shirt features a description of Oklahoma as "this paradise on the prairie," attributed to Thompson Ferguson, governor of Oklahoma Territory.

Situated on Campus Corner, just north of the University of Oklahoma campus, Canon's shop is saturated with merchandise in OU crimson and cream. She has agreed, however, to include a few of the flag-colored shirts.

Oklahoma is special enough that people ought to begin celebrating the centennial this Nov. 16, a year ahead of time, Griffis said.