Direct TV provides Red Oak reasons to be thankful, maybe

Let me start by saying I hate question marks, but especially in a headline.
With that said, when I designed today’s front page over the weekend, the lead headline didn’t have a question mark.
But when Red Oak Chamber and Industrial Association Director Darrel-Steven Carlyle told me Monday morning a joint announcement from Direct TV and the city wouldn’t be coming as expected, I felt the question mark had to be added.
I try to be an optimist as much as possible, and really hope last week’s report that the satellite television provider would be relocating a service center to Red Oak turns out to be true. Filling the void left by CDS’ closing, cutting about 200 jobs, would be invaluable for the local economy.
But the realist in me realizes sometimes business deals turn sour. Maybe the Oklahoma town losing its service center made a 23rd-hour pitch that has Direct TV reconsidering. Maybe Red Oak was simply being used as a barganing chip.
I really don’t think that’s the case. I have had enough experience dealing with corporations and their legal teams and press departments to recognize they move on their own timetable, and it’s usually a very slow and deliberate one.
So I’m going to cast a blind eye to what could be perceived as warning signs, and assume the best: Red Oak just hit the new job jackpot.
It would be easy to assume Red Oak simply got lucky to land these jobs. But in an economy like this, when new jobs are more scarce than a re-elected Democrat, attributing this to luck would be a mistake.
This has nothing to do with luck. This has everything to do with several factors combining to make the perfect environment for a company like Direct TV to come to town.
I’ve always maintained things like the YMCA, the Wilson Performing Arts Center, the History Center and the World War II Depot make Red Oak a little better place to live.
Credit should also be given to the Red Oak CIA for their part in recruiting Direct TV. Job creation like this isn’t by accident. It takes a well-run and supported organization like the Red Oak CIA and a great community to make it happen.
Gregory Orear is the general manager/editor of the Red Oak Express. He can be reached at publisher@redoakexpress.com.