My 2 Cents: Aubrey McClendon

The same free-wheeling spending that apparently cost Aubrey McClendon the company he created, Chesapeake Energy, has also benefited the city and state enormously.

McClendon poured his heart and money, and some of his company's money into his hometown, and really helped kick our growth into top gear at a time when other cities were struggling just to maintain what they had.

Think about it, the beautiful boathouse on the river, buying 19 percent of the Thunder and bringing the NBA here.

He's donated millions to the Food Bank, OU and Heritage Hall just to name a few.

He developed an entire retail district on the Classen Curve just across the street from Chesapeake's Headquarters which according to Forbes magazine is 18th best place in America to work at.

Did I mention the Christmas lights?

Oh, I know he hasn't gone without during all this.. he reportedly spent hundreds of millions on estates in Nichols Hills, Bermuda, Maui, Vail, jets, boats, wine collections... I get it.

I lived through the oil boom of the 70's and 80's.. I remember oilmen throwing around a lot of money, but show me the evidence of their lasting impact on the city and state.

These guys riding this latest boom, McClendon of Chesapeake, Nichols of Devon, Ward of Sandridge, Hamm of Continental they've gotten rich, but they've also made this a better place to live.