OICA.org

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rodney Timms, a child abuse survivor and the president of Western Flyers Express trucking company, presented to Governor Mary Fallin a replica of one of his trucks wrapped in the “Protect Kids” design of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy on Friday, Jan. 13, in appreciation for the governor’s work to help the state of Oklahoma and specifically children.

Timms of Oklahoma City had been physically abused since the age of four until the age of fifteen when he was almost beaten to death. During this time, he recalled the helpless feeling of having no where to go for help, no one intervening on his behalf and no laws like today that “protect kids”.

Now Timms is determined to support child abuse prevention efforts as much as possible. He has served as a member of the board of directors for the Child Abuse Response & Evaluation Center (C.A.R.E. Center) in Oklahoma City and has supported the Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) Action committee efforts with CAP Day at the Capitol.

During CAP Day in 2011, Timms had one of his trucks wrapped in the “Protect Kids” graphic of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) with Governor Mary Fallin’s signature on it. He parked it in front of the State Capitol all day for the event.

A replica of this truck was given to Governor Fallin, along with a poem written by Timms to her, in thanks for her support with such efforts.

“Ensuring the safety and security of Oklahoma’s families and children is an important priority” said Governor Fallin. “I want to commend OICA and Rodney Timms for their efforts to raise awareness through the ‘Protect Kids’ campaign.  It takes great courage to come forward, and I appreciate Rodney, a child abuse survivor, using his experience to protect children from abuse.”

A few CAP Committee members were present for this event, along with the OICA Executive Director Linda Terrell.

 “It takes individuals like Rodney Timms to stand up and voice the need for protection of children; adverse childhood experiences can be prevented,” said Terrell. “We, as a state, must continue our fight to protect all children. Our elected officials need to hear from everyone about this critical issue.”

 Terrell said she looked forward to working with Governor Fallin to ensure Oklahoma's children are “safe, healthy and heard".

 One of the top legislative priorities for the OICA this session will be to push for strong DHS reform, which will lead to a reduction in child abuse.

 Timms described child abuse as something that people refuse to recognize. His passion is to let people know about how bad child abuse is and to encourage people to “wake up and try to stop it.”

 “My goal has always been to save as many lives as possible,” said Timms in regards to his writing poems and books about his child abuse experience. “We save one; that’s a victory. But we can’t ever stop there.”

The next CAP Day at the Capitol will be Tuesday, April 3. Contact Sherie Trice with the Family Support and Prevention Service at Oklahoma State Department of Health to learn how to help at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Gabrielle Wallace with OICA at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Read also a story by The Oklahoman: Child abuse survivor sends large message in Oklahoma