By Conrad Dudderar
Senior Staff Writer
Amid a slew of “Make America Great Again” signs, shirts and hats, a Yukon-area state legislator and her county commissioner husband served as lead volunteers for President Trump’s campaign rally last Saturday in Tulsa.
State Rep. Denise Crosswhite Hader (R-Surrey Hills) and District 1 Canadian County Commissioner Marc Hader supervised efforts of about 75 other volunteers during the event
inside the BOK Center.
The Haders helped with logistics while following established protocols to help ensure the safety of attendees. Citing a recent uptick in confirmed COVID-19 cases, some health officials had questioned the Trump campaign’s decision to host a large indoor gathering due to virus concerns.
“We were ‘front of the house’ volunteers,” Rep. Crosswhite Hader said. “We helped people as they came through the security checkpoint, where they had their temperature checked.
“We gave them masks, hand sanitizer, bottles of water, and wristbands to show they had passed the temperature check.”
The Haders volunteered at the Trump campaign rally after being asked by Oklahoma Second District Congressman Markwayne Mullin.
“Several legislators did; there were quite a few,” said Crosswhite Hader, who represents state House District 41.
“It was a great atmosphere. People were really friendly.
“It was delightful. … it was just a ball.”
The state legislator, who has earned a second term after not drawing an opponent in her re-election bid, did plenty of walking – more than 15,700 steps!
“We did not sit down until probably 2:30, when we sat under a tree for about 10 minutes,” Crosswhite Hader said. “I did get my steps in!”
UPBEAT AND ENTHUSIASTIC
The state legislator’s husband, Canadian County’s commission chairman, said the Trump campaign rally was a truly patriotic event attended by proud Americans.
“Everybody was extra kind and gracious,” said Hader, the two-term District 1 county commissioner. “There were people from all over the country, although it was mostly Oklahomans. People were being courteous about spacing.
“It was a very upbeat, enthusiastic, middle-of-America crowd.”
Some 450 volunteers in all helped with an array of duties for Saturday’s Trump rally in Tulsa.
Other speakers include Vice President Mike Pence and former Oklahoma Speaker of the House T.W. Shannon. Cathy Costello, widow of slain Oklahoma Labor Commissioner Mark Costello, sang the national anthem.
Commissioner Hader said the rally attracted a much more diverse audience “than the political left would give credit,” with many attendees and participants of various races and backgrounds.
The Haders had previously seen Trump at the Republican National Convention before he was elected president in 2016.
“It was really exciting to get to see a sitting president,” Crosswhite Hader said of last Saturday’s rally.
