Kelsey James is the Tourism Ambassador for 2007. She began this year's tourism promotion drive this week. Funds raised through this special campaign are used to promote our area of the state of Oklahoma.

All funds raised are designated for tourism promotion activities and to promote Altus and the immediate area. The visitor industry in the state and region continues to grow. This industry will continue its growth pattern because of tourism projects developing in southwest Oklahoma. Quartz Mountain Resort Arts and Conference Center and Nature Park, Twin Peaks Performance Hall, Hackberry Flats Wetland Restoration Project near Frederick, and the National Park at Cheyenne are just a few of the examples of projects that continue to draw visitors to our area of the U.S.

Her parents are Robbie and Kathy James and she has a younger brother named Ryan. Her Grandparents, Leon and Donna James, are a big part of her life and she also loves her Great Grandmother, Loree Hatton. Her great, great, great grandfather was John McClearen who was one of the founders of Frazer, Indian Territory in 1884. After a major flood from the Salt Fork in 1891, the small town of Frazer moved to higher land, which became Altus, Oklahoma. She is the seventh generation that has lived in this great town. She is 19 years old and attends the University of Central Oklahoma as a sophomore, where she plans to get her degree in the nursing program. Kelsey graduated from Altus High School in 2006. In high school she was part of the cheerleading squad, where she was a UCA All-Star Cheerleader her senior year, and a member of the track team, where she qualified for state her three years of high school. She was also a mentor for a young lady from Altus Intermediate School her senior year. Kelsey was the Secretary of class of 2006 KAY Klub for three years. She also took part in Miss Altus in 2006 where she was awarded the Special Achievement Award. Every year she raises money and helps organize the sale of luminaries for Relay for Life, and also volunteers for the Walk of America. At college she is part of the Epsilon Upsilon chapter of Delta Zeta which keeps her very busy. In her free time she enjoys going to the lake whether it's in the boat and tubing or on the beach riding four-wheelers. Kelsey is very excited to be the 2007 Great Plains Tourism Ambassador for the Altus Chamber of Commerce.