Merle Haggard
Proud to be a Californian from Bakersfield

(Click Image to Zoom In and Out)

In 1969 the Honorable Dewey Bartlett, Governor of Oklahoma, bestowed on country and western star Merle Haggard the title of "Honorary Okie". With the title you also received a certificate signed by the governor himself affirming that OKIE stood for:

Oklahoma
	Key to
		Intelligence and
				Enterprise

And with the certificate and a nickel you could buy a cup of coffee. Provided you came up with another dime.

But lest any think that the author and illustrator of CooperToons is belittling the honor bestowed on Merle or - Heaven forfend! - being snarky, he must needs have pointed out that he, too, was once the proud possessor of a bonafide and duly signed OKIE certificate.

Alas, the documentation has long since disappeared in the exigencies of day to day living. And for those who harbor doubt that the author and illustrator of CooperToons really was the proud possessor of an OKIE certificate, as an

President once said, "Trust me."

But for those who don't know why Merle - who was born in Bakersfield, California - was granted the honorific title, this can only mean that they are 1) quite young or 2) not Merle Haggard fans.

And for those who are very young or simply don't know much about Merle - who in 2010 was honored at the Kennedy Center - you can acquire

Optimum
	Karma for
		Infinite
				Enlightenment

... if you just click here.