within a few steps of the ticket a positive prognosticator for booths at the Fair entrance. long term success of the event. Using his own money, In December 1908, Overholser Overholser built an was named president and Mahan administration building, complete was elected secretary of the with a police station, a telegraph State Fair. They were given office, and an emergency hospital, expanded authority by the Fair and added a concrete floor to the Board to continue expanding Henry Overholser hired Isaac Shepherd “Dick” Mahan to run the day-to-day operations of the State Fair. Ralph T. Hemphill was appointed secretary When WKY Radio went on the air in Oklahoma City, its of the State Fair in 1923. announcers set up a booth at the State Fair. Exhibit Building. The Grandstand facilities, especially because the was expanded to seat 7,000 brief depression was over and people and more than 140,000 Oklahoma City was booming. feet of concrete sidewalks and During the next three years, streets were built. An outdoor the Fairgrounds saw the lighting system was installed, construction of a new Agriculture turning the long autumn Building, expansion of the evenings into a “white city.” Grandstand to seat 10,000, and The investments paid huge installation of an electrical power dividends. The 1908 State Fair plant to light the Grandstand and drew 100,000 people, a 25 racetrack for night events and to percent increase over the 1907 provide electricity to all buildings exposition. The Fair Board on the site. A sewer system and J.M. Owen joined the Fair Board in 1913 and turned a $14,000 profit, not modern restrooms were added, served until 1950. He was Board chairman on enough to pay off past debt, but and Bermuda grass was laid over three different occasions. 18