Red Callaway Memorial Bench at Lake Overholser

We, the children of Red Callaway, who passed away on December 29, 2022 have created this fundraiser to place a bench on the north side of Lake Overholser as a remembrance of his devotion to cycling in Oklahoma as well as the many friends he road with over the years around the lake.

Red (pictured in the front of the paceline) is remembered as an avid bicyclist. He began riding in the 1960s and was called by some the “father of Oklahoma cycling”. He is credited with starting the Oklahoma Bicycle Society, the largest bicycling club in the state.

When training for an event, he would ride about 1000 miles a month. He said that he had ridden 30,000 miles around Lake Overholser during his lifetime. Red and the Oklahoma Bicycle Society held many events in the late 70s and early 80s around the lake. The first of many double and triple-century events were held there. The goal was to complete a triple in less than 36 hours. Laps around the lake were counted by handing out popsicle sticks to the rider, one for each lap.

Red and his wife Dorothy also loved bird watching and took great delight in watching the pelicans during their annual stopover at Lake Overholser during their migratory journeys. They enjoyed sitting at the lake and watching, and recalling their bike-riding days.

With your contribution, we will be able to place a park bench on the west side of the lake for all to take in the lake as our father remembered it.