Professor-made film explores Robert S. Kerr

By Laura Lindley, News Writing Student

The Civic Center Music Hall was ready for Hollywood last month as the red carpet was pulled out and a documentary film about Robert S. Kerr was premiered. Chesapeake Energy Corporation sponsored the production of this film, as well as the festivities.

“Dream No Little Dream,” the story of Kerr’s life, was written and directed by OCCC film Professor Greg Mellott.

The story was narrated by actor Keith Carradine, the actor who played Will Rogers in “The Will Rogers Follies.”

In a speech before the film was screened, Car-radine said he was proud to be chosen to capture the life and legacy of an Oklahoma icon. Carradine provided an introduction to this powerful U.S. senator.

Kerr was born on Sept. 11, 1896, in Ada in what was then the Chickasaw Nation.

“As a young adult, Kerr had three dreams in life: to have a family, a million dollars and to be the governor of Oklahoma,” Carradine said.

He achieved all three.

Kerr began to save his money so he could attend college. Kerr ended up attending Oklahoma Baptist University and the University of Oklahoma.

Kerr enlisted in officer’s training during World War I and eventually was commissioned second lieutenant.

The film offered many scenes of Kerr from news clips and several re-enactments of Kerr’s life, including many tragic losses.

In 1919 he married Reba Shelton and in 1921 the couple’s twin daughters died at birth. Then, Kerr’s produce company burned to the ground.

Despite this devastating situation, Kerr was able to attend law school and pass the bar exam in 1922. In 1924 his wife and their unborn child died during childbirth.

Kerr refused to be defeated.

“This is one of the things that drew me to this story,” Mellott said.

“All the tragedy this man endured, he survived and let the adversity make him stronger.”

Through it all Kerr listened to his father’s advice.

“You can do anything you want to,” his father said. “You just have to want it bad enough and you have to put your heart in it.”

These are words Kerr lived by, Carradine said.

In the film, University of Oklahoma President David Boren, who knew Kerr personally, said Kerr immersed himself in his work.

Kerr became the attorney for Dixon Brothers Drilling Company. He remarried and eventually joined his brother-in-law, Jim Anderson, to form a drilling company called Anderson and Kerr Drilling.

In 1937, the company would be called Kerilyn Oil Company after R.H. Lynn and Dean McGee became their partners. Kerr-McGee was formed in 1946 and Kerr was named president of the company.

In 1941 Kerr would be sworn in as the first native born Oklahoman to become governor.

Throughout Kerr’s campaign, his slogan was “I’m just like you, only I struck oil.”

Kerr was an inspiration who lived each day trying to better this state, Carradine said.

“He never gave up on his dreams.”

For more information about the film, call Mellot at 405-682-1611, ext. 7793.