Myrl and Gayle Mortenson are at the stage of their lives and careers where they could literally live anywhere in the world. They chose Enid. After many years spent traveling as they built the Hanor pork production company into a powerhouse that employs nearly 6,000 people in seven states, they were ready to call Enid home base. They built a 12,000 square-foot corporate office east of town and a family residence in a friendly neighborhood where everyone knows their neighbors.
Childhood sweethearts raised by farming and ranching families in Southern Arizona, they were drawn to Enid by the openness of the landscape, the friendliness of the people and the rural culture of the area. “It’s very family oriented. Life isn’t going so fast that you can’t enjoy your kids, your grandkids, nature, and life in general. It’s so peaceful here,” Gayle says.
While the central location is ideal for their far-flung business operations, it also provides easy access to enjoyable pastimes like sporting events at OSU, NBA games in Oklahoma City, and nearby exhibits and auctions that feature exemplary Western artists.
The couple lauds the updated amenities and infrastructure the city offers. “The first thing we do when we have out-of-town visitors is to take them downtown,” Myrl says. “It’s fabulous. It’s something we can all be proud of, with the beautiful new ballpark and the new downtown convention center. Our guests are always surprised and impressed.”