1970s - FORTY+ YEARS OF MILESTONES. . .
February, 1974
A group of concerned citizens met at the home of a local family to discuss the need for organized recreation for Edmond's teens. The recent drug-related murder of an Edmond youth was the driving force for this meeting. Out of this tragedy emerged the concept of Edmond Youth Council, Inc. Plans to develop a teen recreational center were formulated with a first year budget of $15,000.
April, 1974
Ms. Randy Hanna was hired as director and her husband Tom as co-director of the recreational facility. The Hannas were both graduates of Central State University with Master s degrees in counseling psychology. St. John s Catholic Church agreed to lease the former rectory at 904 South Littler to the Youth Council. A payment of $1.00 a year was charged for the use of the rectory as the youth center.
1974
Operating under the corporate umbrella of the Edmond Youth Council, Inc., the Looking Glass recreational center was opened to the public for the first time. A youth board was created which allowed teens to have a say in the planning and implementation of activities.
1975
The Looking Glass had a membership of over 250 youth with daily attendance reaching 50 to 100 young people. These adolescents involved themselves in a variety of activities, such as foosball, pool tournaments, camping, rock climbing, music lessons and community activities.
1976
The Edmond Youth Council was awarded a grant in the amount of $59,000 from the Oklahoma Crime Commission for delinquency prevention. At this time, there were over 350 youth who regularly attended the center. It became evident that a larger building would be necessary to house the organization s growth. A new home was found at 2125 East Second Street.
1977
The family team of Randy and Tom Hanna left Edmond Youth Council to follow their dreams in California. The Council's board, along with input from The Looking Glass youth board, hired Mr. Paul Tobin as the new agency director. Paul continued recreational activities and added a formal counseling component for youth and their families.
1978
Edmond Youth Council s relationships with area schools grew and a partnership began as staff counselors were invited into schools to provide support counseling for youth involved with drugs and alcohol.
The agency expanded its emphasis on formal counseling. The organization kept the recreational component as it built other services.
1979
A substantial increase in rent presented a challenge for the Council. A group of concerned citizens and Edmond Youth Council formed a joint venture to purchase property at 17 East Fifteenth Street to serve as a new home for the growing agency.
