THE OLDEST MAN IN OKLAHOMA

Overview: Woodie Sylvester, at the remarkable age of 105, was celebrated as the oldest man in Oklahoma. Residing in Weatherford, OK, Woodie had a rich history as a World War II veteran. His life story is filled with unique experiences, including receiving a crucifix from Pope Pius XII and creating an ashtray from Mount Vesuvius lava. Post-war, Woodie became a respected movie theater operator and an active Rotarian.

Production Details: Woodie joined the ranks of the ever growing Notable Oklahomans series; an ongoing personal project photographed by Christopher Bryan. Our team traveled to Weatherford, OK, to capture Woodie’s portraits as his neighbors had gathered to celebrate his 105th birthday. We had a very small window to accommodate the the schedule of the day and prioritized not taking too much of his time to preserve his energy levels.

Final Outcome and Impact: The final images beautifully encapsulated Woodie’s spirit. We were able to add an additional photo of Woodie with his three children. The Sylvester family expressed immense gratitude, noting that the images perfectly honored Woodie’s remarkable journey.

Woodie passed away shortly after these photos were captured.