Ghost Story

Do you believe in Ghosts? I didn’t think I did, but things change…

I bought the building where Community Care College is located from Tulsa-based QuikTrip Corporation. However, the building was originally part of the Telex Corp. The publically traded Telex Corporation is no longer in business but was—at one point—one of Tulsa’s pride and joys in business. At the closing table, a QT representative warned me about Roger Wheeler’s ghost. Multi-millionaire, Roger Wheeler (February 27, 1926 – May 27, 1981), was the chairman and CEO of Telex Corp. and former owner of World Jai Alai.

In 1981, Wheeler was shot point-blank between the eyes in his black Cadillac while preparing to leave Southern Hills Country Club following his weekly game of golf. Later it was determined that Roger Wheeler was murdered by the Mafia for uncovering an embezzlement scheme that was going on at his business.

While we were signing all of the loan and legal documents, I wasn’t about to dwell on the solemn look of this guy’s face as he stared intently into my eyes. Nothing was going to interfere with the most exciting business day of my life…buying my first commercial property with the space I needed to take CCC to the next level!

I buried this inconsequential warning for one year. But all of that changed! On the first anniversary date of the closing, our veterinary instructor told me that during the morning, she witnessed several sightings of an upset “presence” following me around the building. I discounted her bizarre pleas, begging me to be cautious. She even took a photograph of me to prove what she was seeing. In the picture, I was standing outside of my office…but I was not alone, there was a white fuzzy image, in the shape of a tall man, directly behind me!  Roger Wheeler, CEO was not pleased to meet Teresa Knox, CEO.