Gary W. Banz speaks at Concordia Life Plan Community.
By Julie Davis, Executive Director, Concordia Community Foundation
In a spirit of remembrance and shared values, residents and guests of Concordia Life Plan Community gathered for a memorable Memorial Day presentation as part of the community’s ongoing Friday Afternoon Speaker Series.Sponsored by the Concordia Community Foundation and featuring VillagesOKC Director of Veteran & Patriot Iniatives Gary W. Banz, the event offered a poignant tribute to service, sacrifice, and the stories that shape our national identity.
The centerpiece of the program was a documentary film titled “Uncommon Character.” It was produced by Mr. Banz and his grandson Nathan Livingston. It chronicles the life and legacy of James Robert “Bob” Kalsu, a Del City High School football standout, University of Oklahoma All-American, and Buffalo Bills rookie of the year. Kalsu was the only active professional athlete to lose his life in the Vietnam War. His story, presented with great care and historical depth, resonated powerfully with the audience, many of whom have long valued family, faith, and community stewardship. (The film can be viewed on YouTube under the title “Uncommon Character.”)
Following the screening, Mr. Banz shared personal reflections and historical context, drawing from his deep well of experience as a veteran, educator, and public servant. Beyond his many accolades, including a decorated military career and 12 years in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, Banz is widely recognized for his founding role in Oklahoma Honor Flights. From 2009 to 2016, he served as executive director and flight commander, leading 24 flights that brought over 2,000 Oklahoma veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit their memorials—an effort funded entirely through generous community support.
Events like this do more than mark a holiday. They invite us to pause, to consider the legacies we inherit and the ones we build. For longtime homeowners and seasoned community members, these gatherings offer something increasingly rare: meaningful connection rooted in shared purpose.
At Concordia, these moments are more than programming, they are threads in a larger tapestry of lives lived with intention. As residents mingled after the presentation, many expressed not just appreciation, but a sense of renewed inspiration. In honoring others, they were reminded of the impact their own stories continue to have.