Death Notice:
Jim Argo, a former photojournalist for The Oklahoman whose powerful images captured the character of the state and spirit of its people for more than 50 years, died Saturday.
The Edmond resident was 79.
Many of Argo's photographs will remain indelibly etched in the minds of Oklahomans forever — like the image of a fireman running through a maze of burned out automobiles with the remnants of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in the background after the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.
Other photos just made people smile — like the time he persuaded former Gov. George Nigh to climb on the back of an elephant while Nigh was visiting Hugo where circuses often spent the winter.
"Argo captured the essence of Oklahoma for decades. He photographed our triumphs and our tragedies. We are grateful he shared his talents with all of us," said Kelly Dyer Fry, editor of The Oklahoman.
"He captured every bit of Oklahoma," said Doug Hoke, photo editor for The Oklahoman. "He went to every county in the state and brought it to the people. He was a great mentor. I learned a lot from him. Jim taught me that the best photos have a story to tell."
Bob Blackburn, executive director of the Oklahoma Historical Society, said Argo had the unique ability to not just capture an image, but also the story behind the image.
"I knew he would get the meaning of photographs, whether it was a photograph of a house or a city or a family or a kitchen. Whatever beauty was there, he would find it," Blackburn said. "There are a lot of good photographers, but he combined that with being a first-class journalist."
"They'll never make another one like Jim Argo," Blackburn said.
Argo was born in Wichita and raised in Texas, where his family moved when he was 6 weeks old.
He graduated from Amarillo High School and attended Amarillo Junior College and Texas Tech University, where he majored in journalism.
Argo began his professional newspaper career in Texas with the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal and the Amarillo Globe-News before coming to Oklahoma City in 1963 to work for the Oklahoma City Times and The Oklahoman, which was then known as The Daily Oklahoman.
Argo has authored or co-authored seven books and been a significant photographic contributor to many more. Many of his books dealt with Oklahoma history. Blackburn said he believes one of the best was a book Argo and travel writer Kent Ruth put together called "Here We Rest: Historical Cemeteries of Oklahoma."
"The way Kent and Jim told that story, it was a cultural history of Oklahoma through cemeteries and the way people honored their ancestors," Blackburn said. "It was a brilliant book."
Argo won many state, national and international awards through the years, and he was inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame in 1997 and the Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame in 2011.
Argo was photo editor of The Oklahoman during the Oklahoma City bombing — a position he held when he retired in 2005.
"Jim was one of the first news photographers on the scene of the Murrah Building bombing, arriving less than 15 minutes after the blast was felt in The Oklahoman's newsroom," said Jim Beckel, a photographer for The Oklahoman. "He helped to lead the newspaper's photo coverage of this tragic event in the days, weeks and months that followed."
Burnis George Argo, Jim Argo's wife for 52 years, said her husband always thought the best part of his job was that he "got to roam the state of Oklahoma, photographing the people, places and events, preserving them for future generations."
His personal collection of more than 20,000 photographic images has been donated to the Oklahoma Historical Society.
Argo is survived by his wife, Burnis George Argo; two sons, James H. Argo and his wife, Stephanie of Edmond, and John P. Argo of Edmond and his fiance, Megan Barth, of Oklahoma City; three grandchildren, Katy, Claire and Jameson; his niece, Beth Harvey McNeill and her family of Lubbock, Texas, and several cousins who live in Kansas.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Judy Argo Harvey, of Amarillo.
Funeral arrangements are pending at Matthews Funeral Home of Edmond.
**********************************************************************************
Obituary:
1938-2017
Longtime Edmond resident and photojournalist James C. “Jim” Argo died early Saturday morning. Argo was born in Wichita, Kansas, January 9, 1938, to Harold Francis and Eloise Clark Argo. At the age of 6 weeks he moved with his parents to Texas, living in Houston and Fort Worth before settling in Amarillo. He was a graduate of Amarillo High School and attended Amarillo Junior College and Texas Tech University where he majored in journalism.
While in school he worked for the Lubbock Avalanche Journal and later, the Amarillo Globe-News. In 1963 he was hired to work for The Daily Oklahoman and Oklahoma City Times, now known as The Oklahoman. During his long career he won many state, national and international awards for his photography. He was author or co-author of seven books as well as a major contributor to many others. He also freelanced for numerous magazines and periodicals.
One of the earliest photographers on the scene when the Murrah Building was bombed in Oklahoma City, he served as Chief Photographer for The Oklahoman, during the weeks and months of coverage, a position he again held when he retired from the paper in 2005. His greatest pleasure during his career was traveling the state of Oklahoma capturing and preserving images of the people, places and events for future generations. His private collection of over 20,000 images has been donated to the Oklahoma Historical Society.
In 1997 he was inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame and in 2011 to the Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Burnis George Argo, son Jimmy Argo and wife Stephanie and children Katy, Claire and Jameson’s son, John Argo, all of Edmond, and fiancé Megan Barth, Oklahoma City; a niece, Beth Harvey McNeill, Lubbock, Texas, and her family and a number of cousins in Kansas. He was preceded in death by his sister Judy Argo Harvey, Amarillo.
A Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the First Christian Church. Services are under the direction of Matthews Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Edmond.
Contributor: Karl and Sherry Kueteman (47271586) • [email protected]
Jim Argo, a former photojournalist for The Oklahoman whose powerful images captured the character of the state and spirit of its people for more than 50 years, died Saturday.
The Edmond resident was 79.
Many of Argo's photographs will remain indelibly etched in the minds of Oklahomans forever — like the image of a fireman running through a maze of burned out automobiles with the remnants of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in the background after the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.
Other photos just made people smile — like the time he persuaded former Gov. George Nigh to climb on the back of an elephant while Nigh was visiting Hugo where circuses often spent the winter.
"Argo captured the essence of Oklahoma for decades. He photographed our triumphs and our tragedies. We are grateful he shared his talents with all of us," said Kelly Dyer Fry, editor of The Oklahoman.
"He captured every bit of Oklahoma," said Doug Hoke, photo editor for The Oklahoman. "He went to every county in the state and brought it to the people. He was a great mentor. I learned a lot from him. Jim taught me that the best photos have a story to tell."
Bob Blackburn, executive director of the Oklahoma Historical Society, said Argo had the unique ability to not just capture an image, but also the story behind the image.
"I knew he would get the meaning of photographs, whether it was a photograph of a house or a city or a family or a kitchen. Whatever beauty was there, he would find it," Blackburn said. "There are a lot of good photographers, but he combined that with being a first-class journalist."
"They'll never make another one like Jim Argo," Blackburn said.
Argo was born in Wichita and raised in Texas, where his family moved when he was 6 weeks old.
He graduated from Amarillo High School and attended Amarillo Junior College and Texas Tech University, where he majored in journalism.
Argo began his professional newspaper career in Texas with the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal and the Amarillo Globe-News before coming to Oklahoma City in 1963 to work for the Oklahoma City Times and The Oklahoman, which was then known as The Daily Oklahoman.
Argo has authored or co-authored seven books and been a significant photographic contributor to many more. Many of his books dealt with Oklahoma history. Blackburn said he believes one of the best was a book Argo and travel writer Kent Ruth put together called "Here We Rest: Historical Cemeteries of Oklahoma."
"The way Kent and Jim told that story, it was a cultural history of Oklahoma through cemeteries and the way people honored their ancestors," Blackburn said. "It was a brilliant book."
Argo won many state, national and international awards through the years, and he was inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame in 1997 and the Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame in 2011.
Argo was photo editor of The Oklahoman during the Oklahoma City bombing — a position he held when he retired in 2005.
"Jim was one of the first news photographers on the scene of the Murrah Building bombing, arriving less than 15 minutes after the blast was felt in The Oklahoman's newsroom," said Jim Beckel, a photographer for The Oklahoman. "He helped to lead the newspaper's photo coverage of this tragic event in the days, weeks and months that followed."
Burnis George Argo, Jim Argo's wife for 52 years, said her husband always thought the best part of his job was that he "got to roam the state of Oklahoma, photographing the people, places and events, preserving them for future generations."
His personal collection of more than 20,000 photographic images has been donated to the Oklahoma Historical Society.
Argo is survived by his wife, Burnis George Argo; two sons, James H. Argo and his wife, Stephanie of Edmond, and John P. Argo of Edmond and his fiance, Megan Barth, of Oklahoma City; three grandchildren, Katy, Claire and Jameson; his niece, Beth Harvey McNeill and her family of Lubbock, Texas, and several cousins who live in Kansas.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Judy Argo Harvey, of Amarillo.
Funeral arrangements are pending at Matthews Funeral Home of Edmond.
**********************************************************************************
Obituary:
1938-2017
Longtime Edmond resident and photojournalist James C. “Jim” Argo died early Saturday morning. Argo was born in Wichita, Kansas, January 9, 1938, to Harold Francis and Eloise Clark Argo. At the age of 6 weeks he moved with his parents to Texas, living in Houston and Fort Worth before settling in Amarillo. He was a graduate of Amarillo High School and attended Amarillo Junior College and Texas Tech University where he majored in journalism.
While in school he worked for the Lubbock Avalanche Journal and later, the Amarillo Globe-News. In 1963 he was hired to work for The Daily Oklahoman and Oklahoma City Times, now known as The Oklahoman. During his long career he won many state, national and international awards for his photography. He was author or co-author of seven books as well as a major contributor to many others. He also freelanced for numerous magazines and periodicals.
One of the earliest photographers on the scene when the Murrah Building was bombed in Oklahoma City, he served as Chief Photographer for The Oklahoman, during the weeks and months of coverage, a position he again held when he retired from the paper in 2005. His greatest pleasure during his career was traveling the state of Oklahoma capturing and preserving images of the people, places and events for future generations. His private collection of over 20,000 images has been donated to the Oklahoma Historical Society.
In 1997 he was inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame and in 2011 to the Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Burnis George Argo, son Jimmy Argo and wife Stephanie and children Katy, Claire and Jameson’s son, John Argo, all of Edmond, and fiancé Megan Barth, Oklahoma City; a niece, Beth Harvey McNeill, Lubbock, Texas, and her family and a number of cousins in Kansas. He was preceded in death by his sister Judy Argo Harvey, Amarillo.
A Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the First Christian Church. Services are under the direction of Matthews Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Edmond.
Contributor: Karl and Sherry Kueteman (47271586) • [email protected]
Death Notice:
Jim Argo, a former photojournalist for The Oklahoman whose powerful images captured the character of the state and spirit of its people for more than 50 years, died Saturday.
The Edmond resident was 79.
Many of Argo's photographs will remain indelibly etched in the minds of Oklahomans forever — like the image of a fireman running through a maze of burned out automobiles with the remnants of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in the background after the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.
Other photos just made people smile — like the time he persuaded former Gov. George Nigh to climb on the back of an elephant while Nigh was visiting Hugo where circuses often spent the winter.
"Argo captured the essence of Oklahoma for decades. He photographed our triumphs and our tragedies. We are grateful he shared his talents with all of us," said Kelly Dyer Fry, editor of The Oklahoman.
"He captured every bit of Oklahoma," said Doug Hoke, photo editor for The Oklahoman. "He went to every county in the state and brought it to the people. He was a great mentor. I learned a lot from him. Jim taught me that the best photos have a story to tell."
Bob Blackburn, executive director of the Oklahoma Historical Society, said Argo had the unique ability to not just capture an image, but also the story behind the image.
"I knew he would get the meaning of photographs, whether it was a photograph of a house or a city or a family or a kitchen. Whatever beauty was there, he would find it," Blackburn said. "There are a lot of good photographers, but he combined that with being a first-class journalist."
"They'll never make another one like Jim Argo," Blackburn said.
Argo was born in Wichita and raised in Texas, where his family moved when he was 6 weeks old.
He graduated from Amarillo High School and attended Amarillo Junior College and Texas Tech University, where he majored in journalism.
Argo began his professional newspaper career in Texas with the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal and the Amarillo Globe-News before coming to Oklahoma City in 1963 to work for the Oklahoma City Times and The Oklahoman, which was then known as The Daily Oklahoman.
Argo has authored or co-authored seven books and been a significant photographic contributor to many more. Many of his books dealt with Oklahoma history. Blackburn said he believes one of the best was a book Argo and travel writer Kent Ruth put together called "Here We Rest: Historical Cemeteries of Oklahoma."
"The way Kent and Jim told that story, it was a cultural history of Oklahoma through cemeteries and the way people honored their ancestors," Blackburn said. "It was a brilliant book."
Argo won many state, national and international awards through the years, and he was inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame in 1997 and the Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame in 2011.
Argo was photo editor of The Oklahoman during the Oklahoma City bombing — a position he held when he retired in 2005.
"Jim was one of the first news photographers on the scene of the Murrah Building bombing, arriving less than 15 minutes after the blast was felt in The Oklahoman's newsroom," said Jim Beckel, a photographer for The Oklahoman. "He helped to lead the newspaper's photo coverage of this tragic event in the days, weeks and months that followed."
Burnis George Argo, Jim Argo's wife for 52 years, said her husband always thought the best part of his job was that he "got to roam the state of Oklahoma, photographing the people, places and events, preserving them for future generations."
His personal collection of more than 20,000 photographic images has been donated to the Oklahoma Historical Society.
Argo is survived by his wife, Burnis George Argo; two sons, James H. Argo and his wife, Stephanie of Edmond, and John P. Argo of Edmond and his fiance, Megan Barth, of Oklahoma City; three grandchildren, Katy, Claire and Jameson; his niece, Beth Harvey McNeill and her family of Lubbock, Texas, and several cousins who live in Kansas.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Judy Argo Harvey, of Amarillo.
Funeral arrangements are pending at Matthews Funeral Home of Edmond.
**********************************************************************************
Obituary:
1938-2017
Longtime Edmond resident and photojournalist James C. “Jim” Argo died early Saturday morning. Argo was born in Wichita, Kansas, January 9, 1938, to Harold Francis and Eloise Clark Argo. At the age of 6 weeks he moved with his parents to Texas, living in Houston and Fort Worth before settling in Amarillo. He was a graduate of Amarillo High School and attended Amarillo Junior College and Texas Tech University where he majored in journalism.
While in school he worked for the Lubbock Avalanche Journal and later, the Amarillo Globe-News. In 1963 he was hired to work for The Daily Oklahoman and Oklahoma City Times, now known as The Oklahoman. During his long career he won many state, national and international awards for his photography. He was author or co-author of seven books as well as a major contributor to many others. He also freelanced for numerous magazines and periodicals.
One of the earliest photographers on the scene when the Murrah Building was bombed in Oklahoma City, he served as Chief Photographer for The Oklahoman, during the weeks and months of coverage, a position he again held when he retired from the paper in 2005. His greatest pleasure during his career was traveling the state of Oklahoma capturing and preserving images of the people, places and events for future generations. His private collection of over 20,000 images has been donated to the Oklahoma Historical Society.
In 1997 he was inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame and in 2011 to the Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Burnis George Argo, son Jimmy Argo and wife Stephanie and children Katy, Claire and Jameson’s son, John Argo, all of Edmond, and fiancé Megan Barth, Oklahoma City; a niece, Beth Harvey McNeill, Lubbock, Texas, and her family and a number of cousins in Kansas. He was preceded in death by his sister Judy Argo Harvey, Amarillo.
A Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the First Christian Church. Services are under the direction of Matthews Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Edmond.
Contributor: Karl and Sherry Kueteman (47271586) • [email protected]
Jim Argo, a former photojournalist for The Oklahoman whose powerful images captured the character of the state and spirit of its people for more than 50 years, died Saturday.
The Edmond resident was 79.
Many of Argo's photographs will remain indelibly etched in the minds of Oklahomans forever — like the image of a fireman running through a maze of burned out automobiles with the remnants of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in the background after the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.
Other photos just made people smile — like the time he persuaded former Gov. George Nigh to climb on the back of an elephant while Nigh was visiting Hugo where circuses often spent the winter.
"Argo captured the essence of Oklahoma for decades. He photographed our triumphs and our tragedies. We are grateful he shared his talents with all of us," said Kelly Dyer Fry, editor of The Oklahoman.
"He captured every bit of Oklahoma," said Doug Hoke, photo editor for The Oklahoman. "He went to every county in the state and brought it to the people. He was a great mentor. I learned a lot from him. Jim taught me that the best photos have a story to tell."
Bob Blackburn, executive director of the Oklahoma Historical Society, said Argo had the unique ability to not just capture an image, but also the story behind the image.
"I knew he would get the meaning of photographs, whether it was a photograph of a house or a city or a family or a kitchen. Whatever beauty was there, he would find it," Blackburn said. "There are a lot of good photographers, but he combined that with being a first-class journalist."
"They'll never make another one like Jim Argo," Blackburn said.
Argo was born in Wichita and raised in Texas, where his family moved when he was 6 weeks old.
He graduated from Amarillo High School and attended Amarillo Junior College and Texas Tech University, where he majored in journalism.
Argo began his professional newspaper career in Texas with the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal and the Amarillo Globe-News before coming to Oklahoma City in 1963 to work for the Oklahoma City Times and The Oklahoman, which was then known as The Daily Oklahoman.
Argo has authored or co-authored seven books and been a significant photographic contributor to many more. Many of his books dealt with Oklahoma history. Blackburn said he believes one of the best was a book Argo and travel writer Kent Ruth put together called "Here We Rest: Historical Cemeteries of Oklahoma."
"The way Kent and Jim told that story, it was a cultural history of Oklahoma through cemeteries and the way people honored their ancestors," Blackburn said. "It was a brilliant book."
Argo won many state, national and international awards through the years, and he was inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame in 1997 and the Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame in 2011.
Argo was photo editor of The Oklahoman during the Oklahoma City bombing — a position he held when he retired in 2005.
"Jim was one of the first news photographers on the scene of the Murrah Building bombing, arriving less than 15 minutes after the blast was felt in The Oklahoman's newsroom," said Jim Beckel, a photographer for The Oklahoman. "He helped to lead the newspaper's photo coverage of this tragic event in the days, weeks and months that followed."
Burnis George Argo, Jim Argo's wife for 52 years, said her husband always thought the best part of his job was that he "got to roam the state of Oklahoma, photographing the people, places and events, preserving them for future generations."
His personal collection of more than 20,000 photographic images has been donated to the Oklahoma Historical Society.
Argo is survived by his wife, Burnis George Argo; two sons, James H. Argo and his wife, Stephanie of Edmond, and John P. Argo of Edmond and his fiance, Megan Barth, of Oklahoma City; three grandchildren, Katy, Claire and Jameson; his niece, Beth Harvey McNeill and her family of Lubbock, Texas, and several cousins who live in Kansas.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Judy Argo Harvey, of Amarillo.
Funeral arrangements are pending at Matthews Funeral Home of Edmond.
**********************************************************************************
Obituary:
1938-2017
Longtime Edmond resident and photojournalist James C. “Jim” Argo died early Saturday morning. Argo was born in Wichita, Kansas, January 9, 1938, to Harold Francis and Eloise Clark Argo. At the age of 6 weeks he moved with his parents to Texas, living in Houston and Fort Worth before settling in Amarillo. He was a graduate of Amarillo High School and attended Amarillo Junior College and Texas Tech University where he majored in journalism.
While in school he worked for the Lubbock Avalanche Journal and later, the Amarillo Globe-News. In 1963 he was hired to work for The Daily Oklahoman and Oklahoma City Times, now known as The Oklahoman. During his long career he won many state, national and international awards for his photography. He was author or co-author of seven books as well as a major contributor to many others. He also freelanced for numerous magazines and periodicals.
One of the earliest photographers on the scene when the Murrah Building was bombed in Oklahoma City, he served as Chief Photographer for The Oklahoman, during the weeks and months of coverage, a position he again held when he retired from the paper in 2005. His greatest pleasure during his career was traveling the state of Oklahoma capturing and preserving images of the people, places and events for future generations. His private collection of over 20,000 images has been donated to the Oklahoma Historical Society.
In 1997 he was inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame and in 2011 to the Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Burnis George Argo, son Jimmy Argo and wife Stephanie and children Katy, Claire and Jameson’s son, John Argo, all of Edmond, and fiancé Megan Barth, Oklahoma City; a niece, Beth Harvey McNeill, Lubbock, Texas, and her family and a number of cousins in Kansas. He was preceded in death by his sister Judy Argo Harvey, Amarillo.
A Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the First Christian Church. Services are under the direction of Matthews Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Edmond.
Contributor: Karl and Sherry Kueteman (47271586) • [email protected]
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