April 1 Declared Gil Nickel Day in Oklahoma

Gov. Brad Henry will issue a signed proclamation for the State of Oklahoma declaring Friday, April 1, as Gil Nickel Day. The native Oklahoman and supporter of St. Gregory's University in Shawnee was a leading visionary of the Napa Valley wine industry and founder of Far Niente Winery.

St. Gregory's University will honor the late Gil Nickel Friday night, at their annual Wines of the World auction and dinner in Oklahoma City. The university will present Mr. Nickel posthumously with the university's inaugural Lux Benedicti Award or The "Light of Benedict" Award. This award recognizes persons who exemplify the values that lie at the foundation of the Catholic university: hospitality, community, reverence, attentiveness, service, balance, integrity and excellence.

Gil was a 1961 graduate of Oklahoma State University, where he studied physics and math. After serving in Vietnam with the Oklahoma National Guard, he relocated to Southern California, where he worked as a guided missile analyst at the United States Naval laboratory in Corona, California.

Technorati Wine Tag

Shawnee News-Star Online - Gov. Henry to declare April 1 as Gil Nickel Day 03/31/05