Cecil L. O’Brate
Cecil L. O’Brate – farmer, banker, oil and gas producer, ethanol investor, real estate developer, and devoted philanthropist – passed away today in Garden City, Kansas at the age of 95.
O’Brate is survived by his wife of 76 years Frances, who continues to reside in Garden City, KS; four sons Patrick (Jennifer) of Houston, TX, Michael (Judy) of Garden City, KS, Steve (Bonnie) of Garden City, KS, and Mark (Marilyn) of Bentonville, AR; eight grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and one great-great granddaughter.
O’Brate was born in Enid, OK and later moved to Kansas, graduating from Syracuse High School in 1946. He attended Oklahoma A&M in Stillwater, OK. He then began his illustrious career as a successful farmer and rancher in Southwest Kansas. In 1966, he purchased Palmer Mfg. and Tank Inc., which still operates today. He also owned several banks, farm implement dealerships, and many other ventures. He was well known as one of the largest independent oil and gas producers in the state of Kansas, with the flagship company American Warrior, Inc. He also invested heavily in ethanol production and real estate development, including the forthcoming indoor sports complex in Garden City.
O’Brate was passionate about giving back to community, especially youth. In 2013, Cecil and Frances established the O’Brate Foundation. To date, they have awarded over $7 million in college scholarships to students, most of whom grew up either in foster care or economically disadvantaged. A die-hard Oklahoma State University Cowboys fan, Cecil was the lead donor for the construction of O’Brate Stadium. His namesake baseball stadium proudly displays his mantra, “Make it Happen.”
Plans for a Celebration of Life ceremony at First United Methodist Church are pending. Funeral details and full obituary will be posted on Garnand Funeral Home’s website.
OBITUARIES
Mary Lou Kinlund
Mary Lou Kinlund, born on May 5, 1929, to Albert and Merry Gladys (Smades) Lucius, in Horace, was a beloved member of her community and family. She passed away peacefully in Holcomb, on June 11, 2025, at the age of 96. A dedicated and nurturing individual, Mary Lou made a significant... [More]
Celebration of Life for Shane Smith Saturday
A Celebration of Life service for Shane Smith will be held this Saturday, June 7, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the Presbyterian Church in Tribune. Shane was born on March 27, 1977 in Tribune and passed away on March 1, 2025 in Tribune. In lieu of flowers, donations... [More]
Betty Jean Niswonger
Betty Jean Niswonger, age 54, passed away on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at the Destiny Support Home in Garden City. She was born on August 9, 1970, to Keith Eugene and Barbara Ann Zehm Niswonger in Leoti. Betty Jean attended Beamgard Learning Center in Atwood from elementary... [More]
Celebration of Life for Rosalie Abney
The family of Rosalie Abney invites community members to join them in celebrating the life of Rosalie Ann Abney, (nee Nemechek). February 19,1940 – October 16, 2024. The family of Rosalie Abney will be gathering to celebrate her life, and they’d be honored if you’d... [More]
Jon Kelly Davidson
Jon Kelly Davidson, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, at the tranquil Kansas City Hospice House, at the age of 73. Jon was not a name familiar to those who knew him. They would’ve known him as Kelly.... [More]
James Dale Fisher, Jr.
James Dale Fisher, Jr., age 78, passed away at his home in Scott City on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. He was born on September 7, 1946, in Nashville, Kansas to James Dale and Mary Ann Vierthaler Fisher. After graduating from High School, James earned a B.A. in History... [More]
Dayna Ann Bechard
Dayna Ann Bechard passed away peacefully on April 2nd, 2025, in Tribune, at Greeley County Health Services. She was born in Salina, Kansas on November 7, 1978. Graduating from Tescott High School in 1997, she went on to attend Fort Hays State University. She graduated with... [More]
Committal Service for Harold Grubb
The time has come for the committal service for Harold Grubb’s ashes. We’ll meet at the Greeley County Cemetery at 11:00 am M.T. on Friday, April 18. There will be a reception/lunch following the service at the Grubb home at 820 Martin Avenue to share stories... [More]
More Obituaries
- Walter James Waldren
- Shane Gregory Smith
- Donovan Anderson
- Patricia “Pat” McKinley
- Keith Smyth
- Beth Ann (Myers) Tenan
- Vayrena Dee Hamilton
- Ronald Lehman
SPORTS
Trap team competes at Kansas State tournament Saturday
Photo Caption: Members of the Greeley County Trap Team competed at the Kansas State High School Clay Target State Tournament on Saturday, June 14. From left to right are Mia Reynolds, Branson Harris, Logan Harris, Klayton Davignon, Eli Sherer, Brodey Grubb, Rowdy Grubb, Jackson... [More]
Lady Jackrabbits hit the road for summer ball
Photo Caption: The Lady Jackrabbits competed in Scott City and Greensburg last week, playing a total of eight games in three days. In the front row are junior high substitutes Scarlett Shafer and Ellie Schneider. In the back row, from left to right, are Coach Kyle Shafer, Tylee... [More]
Shafer plays in 40th Annual 8-Man All-Star Game
Lincoln Shafer played wide receiver for the west team in the 8-Man Division II All-Star Game, held Saturday, June 7, in Beloit. Shafer is a 2025 graduate of Greeley County High School and plans to play college basketball and pursue a business law degree. His parents... [More]
Brandl secures two medals at Kansas State Track Meet; Grubb, Mora, and Shafer also compete
Photo caption: Jailyn Brandl competed in the 3,200-meter run and the 1,600-meter run at the State Tournament in Wichita, bringing home a fourth-place medal in the 3,200-meter run and a sixth-place medal in the 1,600-meter run. See additional track coverage on page 6. Jailyn... [More]
Shafer places 12th at state; team finishes 7th in 1A State Championship
Photo caption: Lincoln Shafer placed 12th at the 1A State Golf Tournament in Dodge City. Photo by Melissa Zerr. The Greeley County High School golf team traveled to Dodge City for the 1A State Championship held at Mariah Hills on Tuesday, May 27, and Wednesday, May 28. Our... [More]
Greeley County Trap Team leads conference in both fall and spring
Photo Caption: Three of the teams’ four seniors Zoey Shivers, Logan Harris, and Brodey Grubb posed for a photo at trap shooting practice. Shivers finished tied for second in conference with teammate Mia Reynolds on the female side. Harris finished in sixth place in conference... [More]
Shafer to play in Division II West 8-man All Star game in Beloit
Beloit will host the 40th Annual 8 Man All Star Games, on Saturday, June 7. The Division II West All Star Game will be played at 10:00 a.m. Lincoln Shafer has been selected for the Division II All Star Game. He is a 2025 graduate of Greeley County High School and plans... [More]
Jackrabbits claim top spot at Regionals with a 338; Mangan, Shafer, and Higgins-Vestal finish in top 10
Photo Caption: From left to right, Braxon Mangan placed second, Lincoln Shafer placed fourth, and Aaron Higgins-Vestal placed ninth at Regionals. Photo by Brecken Mangan. The Greeley County High School golf team traveled to St. Francis for their regional tournament this... [More]
More Sports
- Brandl, Grubb, Mora, and Shafer qualify for State Track
- Golf team takes first at Regionals, headed to state tourney in Dodge City
- Shafer signs to play basketball at Kansas Wesleyan
- Junior High Track team finishes their season at NWKL Meet
- High School Track team competes in NWKL Meet
- High School Jackrabbits compete in Dighton Invitational
- Varsity golf competes at Oakley, Johnson; JV plays in Grinnell Scramble
- Junior High Track competes in back to back meets
NEWS
Ross Marlow, PA bids Greeley County Health Services, community farewell
The nearly four years Ross Marlow, Physician Assistant at Greeley County Health Services, spent there have been “More than an opportunity,” he said. “It’s been a blessing.” Marlow, who had recently graduated when he began working in Greeley... [More]
Renowned dementia expert to speak in community
by GCHS Staff Free Community Talk and Professional Staff Training Available Greeley County Health Services is pleased to welcome nationally recognized dementia expert Kathi Miracle for a special community event and professional training opportunity. With over... [More]
Kansas Reading Magician Brings Vibrant Magic to Local Library’s “Color Your World” Summer Reading Program
Dan Dan the Magic Man, the beloved traveling Kansas library magician, is set to dazzle young readers and their families with a kaleidoscope of magic and imagination. As part of the 2025 Summer Reading Program, themed “Color Your World,” Dan Dan will bring his vibrant... [More]
Greeley County Schools to host ground-breaking
Greeley County Schools will host a ground-breaking at the site of the new gym and playground this Thursday, June 19, at 4 p.m. at Greeley County Schools. The public is invited and encouraged to attend.
KSN’s Summer Road Trip here today
KSN’s Summer Road Trip will stop by the Greeley County Library on Wednesday, June 18, beginning at 12:45 p.m. Free barbecue sandwiches, prepared by ZBQ BBQ and provided by Greeley County Community Development, will be provided. The Greeley County Library... [More]
Temperatures rise to the 80s, wheat begins to turn
With highs in the 80s throughout the week, it began to feel more like June in Greeley County. The week’s high was 87, recorded for Tuesday, June 10, and Sunday, June 15. The week’s low of 49 degrees was recorded in the 24-hours leading up to Tuesday, June 10. The... [More]
Fifty-one year old tower comes down, improving airport approach
Photo Caption: Local emergency personnel stood by last Monday as the tower was demolished. Half a century after its installation, personnel from Pioneer Communications and Hill Industries out of Texas pulled down the 400-foot tower northeast of Tribune, removing a key... [More]
Cost-Share Money Available at Greeley County Conservation District
The new funding for the Greeley County Conservation District cost share will be available on July 1, 2025, for the fiscal year. Cost Share will be available in the WRCSP (State Water Resources Cost-Share) Program and the NPS (Non-Point Source) Program. This is the Conservation... [More]
More News
- Greeley County Health Services Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
- Board of Supervisors Special Session meeting notes
- The Instrument Flight Rules airport-obstructing tower has been toppled
- Summer Kickoff entertains in Greeley County
- Greeley County Health Services brings Pain Management services in-house
- Stay Strong, Stay Healthy: Eight week course aims to keep Kansans moving
- How to Train Your Dragon at Star Theater
- Additional moisture falls, cool temps linger
OPINIONS
Letter to the Editor: With Trump and Musk driving U.S. policy, Kansas farmers have been played for suckers
By Ben Palen Also published in the Kansas Reflector Back in November, I wrote a column for Kansas Reflector that discussed the likely adverse effects of President Trump’s proposed tariffs on U.S. farmers. The piece noted that 398 million acres of cropland has been... [More]
Letter to the Editor: Donald Trump is not our king
Donald Trump is not our king. He was elected with less than 50 percent of the popular vote and his margin of victory was 1.5 percent. There is no mandate in those numbers. Our elected members of Congress have a sworn duty to support and defend the Constitution and the... [More]
Open letter to Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall
On March 1 at Oakley in western Kansas, Sen. Roger Marshall held a town hall meeting for area constitutents wanting to know more about activities in Washington DC that have impacts on them. The following written questions were submitted by Louise Ehmke. Unfortunately they were... [More]
Letter to the Editor - School bond issue
Sometimes I wonder what drives our government to do things in our name but don’t make sense. With regard to our School Bond election and the Kansas Attorney General’s ruling, how can it be that a law is enacted that has such serious flaws in it. SB 221... [More]
Insight: Your vote counts
In about two weeks or so, it will be Election Day. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I cannot wait for it to be over. I will not say another word about the campaigns because my mother told me, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at... [More]
Volunteers are the heart of our community
As we celebrate National 4-H Week this week, 4-H Members across the country are celebrating this wonderful youth organization with Friends, Family, and the Communities that support this youth development program. In addition to celebrating the hard-work and dedication of... [More]
A tribute to Tribune and her friendly residents
In 2023, we visited our good friends Julie and Bill Lawrence of Tribune, Kansas. We fell in love with Tribune! During one of our subsequent visits, we found and purchased a great house and will move in, in 2026. Everyone, and I mean everyone, we’ve come... [More]
Letter to the community from Superintendent Niehues
Dear families and community members, I hope this message finds you well. I want to take a moment to thank you for your continued support and engagement with our school community. Over the past few weeks, we have become aware of an issue regarding our school bond vote. As... [More]
More Opinions
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