Here are podcast show notes based on the transcript provided from the "Woodward Shoutouts" deep dive.

Episode Description: In this episode of the Woodward Shoutouts deep dive, we explore one of the region's most enduring enigmas: the story of the "Sandhills Preacher". Known as "the man who built Woodward," this figure was more than just a spiritual leader; he was a logistical hub and economic engine who helped knit together the town's very foundation. Join us as we unpack the timeline of his sudden disappearance following a calm Sunday sermon and how his vanishing left a "practical hole" in the community. We also discuss the rugged geography of the Sandhills and how this specific mystery connects to a darker regional history of disappearances, including the 1947 Joan Gay Croft case and the 2002 disappearance of Logan Tucker.

Key Topics Discussed:

• The Builder & The Preacher: How this figure served as both a spiritual guide and a "get things done" leader who organized labor and funded public buildings.
• The Timeline: A look at his final, impassioned—but normal—sermon and his sudden disappearance later that Sunday without a struggle or note.
• The Silent Character: How the shifting dunes and isolation of the Oklahoma Sand Hills make search efforts nearly impossible and help keep secrets hidden.
• A Pattern of Loss: Examining how the local "dark lens" regarding disappearances was shaped by the tragedies of Joan Gay Croft (1947) and Logan Tucker (2002).
• Three Theories: We break down the possibilities debated by the community:
  1. Environmental: An accident or illness in the unforgiving terrain.
  2. Foul Play: The result of land disputes, church politics, or rivalries.
  3. Voluntary Abandonment: The damaging theory that he simply chose to walk away, potentially turning a martyr into a symbol of betrayal.
• The Legacy: How an unanswered question becomes a "foundational myth" and a permanent shadow in Woodward's collective memory.

Notable Quotes:

• "He wasn't just known for say powerful sermons... he was apparently an economic engine... helping set up everything from maybe the first meeting hall to basic roads."
• "The place itself, the terrain, it's like a silent character in this story enabling the disappearance."
• "If he was murdered he's a martyr... but if he left he becomes something else entirely... a symbol of betrayal."

Links & Resources:

• Subscribe for more hidden history: woodwardshouts.com
• Based on the article: The Man Who Built Woodward and Then Vanished