Month: February 2010

Jerry and Carolyn Gerten-Collins

 

You may not remember Jerry (Gerald) and me in school.  We were rather low profile.  I attended the Catholic school through my sophomore year. Then went to Enid High my junior and senior year. Belonging to DECA, I worked at Morgan’s Diamond Shop, still finding lots of time for my friends in both schools.

 

Jerry on the other hand was more into the Playboy’s Car Club and National Guard than into school.  He did have a favorite class, which happened to be Art.  Miss Bales never caught on that all his sketches were of Bank Lumber Company, across the street from Dairy Maid #14.

 

Jerry and I did not know each other in high school; we must not have been too impressed with each other at the time.  We met for the first time in 1958 at Dairy Maid #14 (how romantic). We hit it off and were married in September of 1959. 

 

Since then, we had two lovely daughters; both are great moms to our 3 grandsons from 13 to 16 years.   Even though all live in Oklahoma, we do not seem to see them enough. They are busy; we are busy so when time permits we make the best of it.

 

I had worked for Oil & Gas companies for more than 30 years and grew tired of the ups and downs of the industry so I went to work in the accounting department of Gaillardia Country Club in Oklahoma City late in 1999.  I love the people contact.

 

Jerry had traveled all over the mid-west and south-west USA as a sales representative of industrial rubber companies.  He retired in 2001.  As a bored, stay at home husband we decided he needed a part-time occupation.  He has been working part time Land Company assisting in oil and gas leasing since August 2005. We both have been happier people since.

 

I love gardening of all kinds it is a kind of outdoor therapy and have served as President of the Water Garden Society of Oklahoma this year and in 1996.  I have enjoyed serving on most of the committees through the years with Jerry at my side.

 

Jerry is more into inanimate objects.  He thrives on the latest electronics.  He probably has more TV’s, telephones etc in our house than anybody I know.

 

We love people, music and travel; all of which make us happy.  In our younger years we made many trips to Mexico. In our travels, we had trips by trains, planes, buses and automobiles. Jerry also took many trips by motorcycle to the back country where most cars wouldn’t go. Since I didn’t ride on the motorcycle, one time I rode on a second class bus with the chickens and goats. We would meet up each night. The adventure was overwhelming but I learned fast not to do that again.  Life has been an adventure, as Jerry knows no fear.  He delighted in getting us in tight spots that I was not sure we would live through.  A bit more cautious of late, we enjoy the western states and cruises.  The eat, drink and make new friends are better for now.

 

–Gerald L Collins
October 31, 1938-March 6, 2024

Gerald Lee “Jerry” Collins passed away March 6, 2024. Jerry was born on Halloween, October 31, 1938, to Leslie and Mary (Breeding) Collins in Okemah, Oklahoma (one day after the famous “War of the Worlds” radio broadcast). When a very young man Jerry used his bicycle to deliver newspapers for the Enid Daily Eagle and Sunday Newspaper. He would tell his daughters about how, on cold, wet winter nights he would return home, and his pants would stand up on their own having been so frozen. He graduated from Enid High School in 1957.
After graduating from high school, he met the love of his life, Carolyn Gerten. They eloped and married in Wichita, Kansas, on September 5, 1959. About one year later, their daughter Cindy was born. Seven years later, Karen was born. He served in the 45th Infantry Division of the Oklahoma National Guard from 1959 to 1964. He loved to reminisce about his days at summer camp with his fellow guardsmen. Some of those guardsmen remained close friends to their dying days. He was a charter member of the Playboys Car Club in Enid which was incorporated in 1959. They held numerous drag races at Vance Air Force Base and Kegelman Field, giving half of the proceeds to Vance AFB and the Enid Police Athletic Fund. They sent a hand-written letter to Hugh Hefner requesting permission to use the Playboy Magazine bunny with racing flags for their logo – permission was granted. Jerry enjoyed spending time riding motorcycles with his friends in the mountains of Mexico, Colorado, and New Mexico. He had many tales to tell and pictures to show. In addition to those places, he and Carolyn traveled to Canada and Alaska and took several ocean cruises. For many years he had season tickets to the OU football games
and enjoyed the games with his good friend Everette Brewer. After delivering newspapers, his first major job was at Howell Tire Company in Enid where he worked as a tire recapper. In 1963, he began working for Monkey Grip, a company in Dallas, Texas, as a regional
salesman. He worked there for 25 years and was given an award for having sold more than $1,000,000 in just one year. He later worked for Price Rubber Company in Alabama, Paris Supply, of Paris, Texas, and finally for Land Services in Blanchard, Oklahoma. He is preceded in death by his parents, Mary and Leslie Collins. He is survived by
his wife, Carolyn; daughters Cindy Ramsey, Karen Laubach, and son-in-law Mark Ramsey. Grandchildren; Ben Ramsey and wife Kayla, Alex Ramsey and wife Brittany, Justin Laubach and wife Katie. Great grandchildren; Liam Laubach, Addilyn Ramsey, and Theo Laubach;
his brother Bob Collins and wife Sue, brother-in-law Charles Gerten, and wife Doris, as well as several nephews and cousins. His unique sense of humor will be remembered and missed by his many friends and family.

 

 

Tom and Ruth Ann Brown-Sailors
Family members from left to right are Nancy and Kelly Killam, Ruth Ann, Tom, Greg and Brooke Kadet. Children from left to right are: Katie, Emilie, and Matt Killam, Anna and Jake Kadet.

Fifty years in a few short paragraphs? If this gets long, remember there are two of us. Here goes!

Yes, Tom and I are still in Enid, and I might add, by choice. I was born in Enid and Tom moved to Enid from OKC in the eighth grade. We were acquainted during high school but never had a class together. After graduation, I attended Christian College for Women in Columbia, MO my freshman year and then transferred to O.S.U., where I graduated with a BS in Art Education in 1961 and Masters in Elementary Education in 1963. Tom attended O.U. with Don Pierce, Steve Meese and Dan Duggan. He then transferred to O.S.U. with Don Pierce, where Don began his sophomore year when we had a Humanities class together, along with Bill Humphries. He “claims” that Bill pushed him down the stairs and when he looked up he found me helping to pick him and his books up from the floor. He graduated with a BS degree in Business Administration with a major in Economics in 1962.

We were married in Aug. of 1961 and stayed in Enid, where I began my teaching career in a little one room school house west of town, teaching the first four grades and Tom finished his degree at the end of the first semester at OSU. He then took a position as a land man with Humble Oil Co. In August of 1962, we decided the corporate life wasn’t for us and decided to go back to O.S.U. to work on our Master’s degrees. In 1963, Tom accepted a position as Enid’s assistant City Manager, and I taught 3rd grade at Hayes Elem. Tom quickly developed a passion for municipal government and public service in general and more specifically, in Enid. I continued to teach until Nancy was born in 1967, then became a stay at home Mom for the next 18 years. Katherine, “Brooke” was born in 1974, and was named after my favorite teacher and mentor at EHS, Katherine Bales. (If you did not have Miss Bales back then, she was quite a lady….took every kid who had been kicked out of everything else or couldn’t pass anything else…and worked with them to keep them in school. She greatly influenced my career choice and my teaching style.) We thought Enid was the perfect place to raise our family. During these years, I did a lot of charity work through the Junior Welfare League and volunteered on various boards in need. I was busy with the girls’ school activities, car pools, dancing lessons, sports, etc. I loved every minute of those years, which seemed to pass too quickly.

I’m very proud of Tom’s achievements, and since this reunion is a “celebration of our roots” in Enid, you might be interested in things he did to improve our city. In 1969, he was appointed City Manager of Enid at age 29, the youngest city manager in the USA. He was fortunate to work with many community leaders and employees and with their assistance completed many needed projects. City hall was moved from Convention hall to a new municipal office complex, new police, fire, public works, waterworks and airport facilities were constructed and additional parks were acquired and expanded. Major comprehensive planning was undertaken, municipal boundaries expanded and significant growth in the mid 1960’s to early 1980’s was effectively managed with new sub-division and zoning tools. During this time and with the support of many, he was recognized professionally on numerous occasions for contributions to our city and state. He was selected Oklahoma’s outstanding person at age 34, was a distinguished guest at the Air War College and recipient of the International City Management’s Innovation in Management Award on several occasions.

In 1980 with a mid-life crisis at hand and a young family to support, Tom resigned his position with the City to buy his family’s distribution business, which he managed until its sale in 2004. He also formed a consultant firm focused on and providing a variety of services to municipal governments. He managed public trust authorities, assisting in public financings. In Enid this consisted of public utility and safety projects, Enid’s Meadolake Psychiatric Hospital, a dual diagnosed facility at Enid’s Northern Okla. Resource Center (formerly the Enid State School). He also served as a consultant to downtown Enid, Inc. in the 80’s and assisted in the development of design projects for down town streetscape and storefronts together with the planning, funding and development of the Cherokee Strip Conference Center in downtown Enid. During this time he served as board chairman of a national banking corporation and President of the Valley Investment Corp., the general partner in the management of Moto Photo’s of Kansas.

Enid experienced considerable growth between the late 70’s and the mid 80’s and its population grew by 11,000 to a total of approximately 67,600. (In 1957 the population of Enid was about 38,000.) However, with the oil bust of the late 80’s our population fell by almost 11,000. In 1991, he became President of Enid Development Coalition, which was formed to promote economic growth. He was challenged but filled over 500,000 sq. ft. of vacant warehouse and manufacturing space with firms, creating some 1,800 new jobs and $44 million in annual payroll and benefits. He has also served our university community as chairman for fund raising campaigns, has chaired the Enid Higher Education Foundation and assisted in funding the acquisition of State supported higher education. He served as Vice-Chairman of the Enid Tri-State Music Festival, Co-Chairman of the Greater Enid Chamber of Commerce Economic Development team, and Director of the United Way. He still cherishes his years with the City of Enid as the highlight of his career.

Well, Nancy went off to OSU, Brooke was in Jr. High, and I went back to teaching. I taught 5 years at Monroe and then moved back to EHS for 10 years where I taught studio Art, Art History, was yearbook Sponsor, and also served as Dept. Head and Art Supervisor for the Enid Public School system. (Just call me Katherine Bales!) Loved teaching….loved the kids! I was able to leave a few things for posterity…spent 6 years researching and making the May Fete panels (in the name of the Class of 1957) that hang next to the library in the main hall of EHS. Was also the chairman of “The Vision Seeker” project, acquiring and setting the monument that signifies the image of the Plainsman. The student body honored me with two awards, which mean more to me than if I had won the Nobel Peace prize. One of these, “Pride of the Plainsman”, was awarded to me and my late good friend, Bobby Atkinson, on the same day, which made it even more special. His award recognized him for working with children through sports and mine through education.

Tom is semi-retired and serves as Chairman and CEO of the National Business Association (NBA, a group of business owner based in Dallas. With NBA, he is involved in public policy work on behalf of the association in Dallas and Washington DC. He continues to do municipal consulting, but on a more limited basis. He is currently assisting in the development of several capital funding projects for Enid. He serves our church on its administrative board and is a member of Rotary. I retired from teaching in the year 2000 thinking I would have time to paint, etc. While I have joined a bridge group and serve as a board member of the EHS Alumni Association, my painting goes neglected, as I stay extremely busy with family and grandchildren. Nancy married an Enid man, Kelly Killam, and they live here with their three children, Katie (15), Matt (11), and Emilie (8). Kelly works with computers at Vance AFB and Nancy teaches Pre-K at Taft. We stay busy at the kid’s ball games, dance recitals, etc. and have lots of sleep overs at our home and good times in our pool. We are indoctrinating them early by taking them to OSU football and basketball games. Brooke also graduated from OSU, taught in Tulsa 2 years, and then married a Yankee man from Rhode Island, Greg Kadet. He is with UBS and in their 7 years of marriage have lived in Denver, Chicago, St. Louis and now Tampa. We have enjoyed exploring and getting better acquainted with these cities. They have two little cuties, Jake (5) and Anna (almost 3). We try to visit often and hope they will get back to the mid west area soon.

Tom and I have enjoyed working on the reunion committee during the years, and are looking forward to seeing everyone again in October. Fifty years…WOW! I always thought people who had 50 year reunions were OLD! I don’t think of us as that now. Maybe our bodies are slower but our spirits are still young. Joan, Karen, Carolyn, Jody…think we could still lead “Let er Rip”?

Tom and Ruth Ann (Brown) Sailors

Walter Howard Bowart (deceased December 18, 2007)

Walter Bowart, a leader in the counterculture movement of the late 1960s, founder and editor of the first underground newspaper in New York, The East Village Other, and author of the book Operation Mind Control, died December 18th, 2007, age 68.

Mr. Bowart was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1939 and was raised in Enid, Oklahoma. His talent for writing became apparent early on: at Enid High School he was president of the Journalism Club and co-editor of the school’s newspaper, the Quill Weekly. He subsequently won a McMahon Scholarship in journalism to the University of Oklahoma. In the early 1960s he moved to New York, initially to pursue an interest in painting. There, he met his first wife Linda Dugmore, daughter of Abstract Expressionist Edward Dugmore, and together they had a son, Wolfe. In 1965, Mr. Bowart, along with John Wilcock, Sherry Needham, and Allan Katzman, founded the East Village Other (EVO). EVO was widely regarded as the voice of “the movement” and offered a newsprint medium for the rants, artwork, poetry and comics of such 60’s icons as Timothy Leary, Allen Ginsberg, Robert Crumb, Marshall McCluhan, Spain Rodriguez, and The Fugs. It was during this period that Mr. Bowart testified at the Senate Juvenile Delinquency Subcommittee hearing held in 1966 in Washington, D.C., against banning LSD.

Through his connection with Timothy Leary and the psychedelic underground, Walter met his second wife, Peggy Mellon Hitchcock. They moved to Tucson, Arizona in 1968 where Bowart founded Omen Press, a publishing house for metaphysical books. He and Peggy had two daughters, Sophia and Nuria. During this period Walt wrote the book that was to become his seminal work, Operation Mind Control. Operation Mind Control, published by Dell in 1978, is a 686-page investigative report into government mind control through the use of drugs such as LSD, behavior modification, hypnosis, and other “psycho-weapons.” With a foreword by “The Manchurian Candidate” author Richard Condon, it became a benchmark in its field.

Following a European promotional tour, Bowart moved to Aspen, Colorado, where he continued his research, became a contributor to the Aspen Daily News, and met and married Margo Jordan. In the early 1980s, Bowart created and published the Port Townsend Daily News in Washington, where he met and married Rebecca Fullerton and had his fourth child, Wythe. In the late 80s, Walter moved to Palm Springs, California to become the editor of Palm Springs Life Magazine.

During Mr. Bowart’s later years, he researched and wrote prolifically. He created The Freedom of Thought Foundation; a non-profit dedicated to the education of the public about mind control. Walt was a frequently invited guest speaker at forums and conferences around the country. At the time of his death, Mr. Bowart was working on several screenplays and novels, one entitled The Other Crusades, about New York in the early 1960s.

He will be greatly missed by his friends and family. In addition to his four children, he is survived by three sisters Janet, Nancy and Kathy. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Hospice of Spokane, P.O. Box 808, Chewelah, Washington, 99109. For more information on the memorial service email Walt Bowart Memorial

Remembering Walter Bowart

We came to know Walter while he lived with us. He became part of our family because of his love, support and understanding for all of us. We endured good and bad times together but we supported each other throughout the way. Walter was an incredible soul who radiated warmth to all who surrounded him. He was that person who loved to give, and not ever waiting to get anything back, because giving was his pleasure in itself.

He was brilliant in many different ways. In terms of intelligence, his intellect was way beyond the usual capacity. Walter would often be found reading a book, listening to the radio, watching TV and taking notes while having a conversation with you at the same time. He liked to sleep with the History Channel or his favorite radio station on and when he would wake, he would tell all about the programs that subconsciously entered his forever open and ready mind. He amazed us with this every time. He would buy a new book just about every day and use his speed reading ability to get through them instantaneously. His books were his treasures and he valued them for the knowledge that gave him such pleasure. He was always looking for the truth in every aspect of life and beyond. His hunger for knowledge was endless and this drove him in his search for more than most people would readily accept to be true.

Walter was also great with people. It seemed like he was a magnet that everyone was willing and desired to stick to. He found a way into everyone’s heart within minutes of meeting them, and he did it with sincerity. He wasn’t trying to be nice; he loved people and saw positive sides in every person and helped them realized these qualities within themselves.

He was the greatest teacher we knew and at the same time he would always say that every person he encountered was a teacher for him. This was another one of his many gifts, to recognize everyone’s potential and encourage them how to use it correctly.

He also had such a fun sense of humor and his laugh was so attractive, we could not help but simply laugh with him at times for the pleasure of sharing the moment. He was happy as we knew him, and it was always easy to get that gentle and warm smile out of him. Even during his sickness, his spirit found joy in many things and he did not want to show us his pain so that it would not in turn hurt us. We love Walter very much and always will. He will always be in our heart and his room in our house will always remain Walter’s room. Every time we go in there we can feel his energy, remember our many conversations and his big blue sparkly eyes. He was a best friend to all of us.

Galina, Nadya and Nick Migalko

Zella Murray-Cock

 

On May 31, 1957, two hundred and eighty two of us graduated from Enid High School as the Class of 1957.  I don’t remember a lot about that day but being the emotional person I am, I do remember that for me, it was filled with tremendous highs and lows. I was happy to have gained my independence but sad at the thought of leaving my special friends, knowing that things would never again be the same for us.  We’d all go our separate ways, be scattered to various parts of the world and would probably never see each other again.

I had received my high school diploma but really didn’t have a clue as to what I would do with my life.

I went to work for Francis I. DuPont, a brokerage firm in Enid and  I have to admit that I thought I had landed on another planet.  I had entered a world where no one spoke the language that I had been taught in school.  In the land of DuPont, they talked about the Dow Jones Average (which was hovering around 500) blue chip stocks, bonds, commodities, symbols, charts, ups, downs, margins, puts, calls, shorts and P.E. ratios.  As an 18 year old, this was all foreign to me and in the beginning, all I could think of was escaping that crazy world but fortunately, I persevered and by the time I left DuPont in 1959, I could talk “the bulls and the bears” with the best of them.  I worked for DuPont for two years and received an education in finance that would interest and benefit me the rest of my life.

In September 1957, I met 1^st Lieutenant, Leon Jerald Cock, a native of Meadows of Dan, Virginia. (Blue Ridge Mountain country….beautiful!)  He had graduated from Virginia Military Institute (with a Civil Engineering degree) and was stationed at Vance Air Force Base as a pilot.  We were married in 1959 at the West Side Baptist Church in Enid.

In 1960, Leon resigned his commission from the Air Force and went to work for Alcoa Aluminum in Houston, Texas. While Leon worked for Alcoa, I attended Houston Baptist University.

 For nearly five years, we were happy, snug and secure in Houston but beginning in 1965 (and for the next three years) Alcoa made a full time job of transferring us from Alameda and Pleasant Hills, California  to Murrysville and Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania and then to Dallas, Texas.  Finally, to our delight, in November 1968, we were sent to Riverside, California.

In Riverside, I went to work for the owner of a shopping center development company.  I was responsible for advertising and marketing the shopping centers that were built by that company.  Over the span of the next twenty years, I worked as Assistant Manager – Director of Marketing for three major shopping centers, each growing larger and with more responsibility than the last.  I had started my career in strip or neighborhood centers of about 20,000 square feet of retail space, with ten to fifteen stores and  twenty years later, I ended my career as Assistant Manager -Director of Marketing of a two level, super regional  l,500,000 square foot shopping center with two hundred and fifty stores.

When one markets a shopping center, it is his responsibility to bring customers to the center though advertising and through special events.  I loved the advertising, especially the supervision of shooting television commercials but promotional events were really my forte. These events are comprised of various things., from merchandising events, to community events to traffic building events etc.  Being so close to Los Angeles and Las Vegas, many of our traffic building events, included  special guest appearances of celebrities, either in fashion shows, autograph signing sessions, musical shows or special appearance events. Through these various events, I was able to work, with celebrities that I had only seen on television, in the movies or in the theatre.  All in all, I worked  ONE on ONE,  with over 50 stars such as  Zsa  Zsa Gabor, Jane Powell, Vanessa Redgrave, Ginger Rogers, Anna Maria Alberghetti, Rosemary Clooney and nearly ALL of the Lawrence Welk singers and dancers.

In reflecting on my career, I would say the highlight was when The International Council of Shopping Centers, (the shopping center trade organization, consisting of 60,000 members) asked me to organize and preside over a super fashion show, to be presented from the stage of The Grand Show Room of the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel, the stage where Elvis performed during his career. I was given an unlimited budget and was able to hire the finest musicians, singers, dancers and models whose talents made for a special production.  The show was attended by 2500 members of my profession and was a  tremendous success.

While in the shopping center business, I took a two year correspondence course in Interior Design and received an Interior Design Certification from LaSalle, University in Chicago, Illinois. I love that industry but, my main interest was in marketing and managing major shopping centers, so I updated my skills by attending special marketing classes at California Polytechnical Institute in Pomona, California, Michigan State University in Lansing, Michigan and the University of Arizona, in Tucson, Arizona. 

 Since fashion is an integral part in the marketing of a major shopping center, I studied fashion and fashion presentation extensively with the Riverside fashion doyenne, who herself had studied at the Fashion Institute in New York City.  She was the most “fashion savvy lady “ I have ever met and it was a privilege to be associated with her. While studying with her, I was fortunate to co-host a major fashion event with “THE”  Mr. Blackwell of  Worst and Best  Dressed fame. Unlike his reputation, he is a very kind and gentle person and I enjoyed working with him immensely. 

I had a fabulous career that when I was growing up I could never have imagined in my wildest dreams.  When I think back on it, I am astounded as to how I was led to it one step at a time, never really knowing where I was going until I landed smack dab in the middle of it. What a joy it is for one to be able to earn a living, doing something that he/she absolutely loves. How lucky I was to have been so fortunate. 

I could never write a “bio” without paying tribute to my parents, my siblings and my church.  What wonderful components they were and are in my life. My parents (the best) were hard working, blue collar people who devoted their lives to their children. It was their goal in life to raise, good, kind, caring, loving, considerate, responsible children and I am proud to say that they were a SUCCESS!!! My two older sisters and two younger brothers have been a blessing to me and I can’t imagine what life would have been like without any of the four of them.  I thank God that they belong to me!!!

 In my growing up years, I was deeply involved in the Baptist church and spent most of my leisure and social time at the West Side Baptist Church in Enid. I developed Christian friends there with whom I am still close and when I am in Enid, Sunday mornings will find me worshiping in that little church.  My Christian faith, which I discovered as an early teenager, is a constant in my life and brings me peace and joy and sustains me on a daily basis.

Leon and I have been retired since 1990. We have traveled extensively and with the world in the shape it’s in, I think we just about have that part of our lives behind us. We have been through most phases that people go through in their lives and I feel I am entering into another one right now…..a phase of contentment.  At this point in my life, my desires and needs are simple. The older I get, the less I want.  Excess drives me crazy and I refuse to be held hostage to possessions.  I like a plain and simple, peace and quiet kind of life. I guess that’s what the senior years are all about, at least they are for me.  No, I don’t mean to imply that I am through with life, I am just through with the frivolous, excessive part of it. I have developed a sort of “been there, done that” attitude.

 In retirement, I busy myself with a number of activities and interests which include, family, friends, health, exercise, religion, bridge, reading, history, live theatre, music of all types (especially live performances,) the computer, limited travel, and the stock market.  (Remember Francis I. DuPont?)

I began this biography, expressing my fear that once we graduated from high school that my friends from school would scatter to the four corners of the world, never to be heard from again. I am happy to say that I could never have been more wrong!!!  I have been able to keep up with many of my fellow grads and their spouses through e-mails, telephone calls and face to face visits every once in awhile. Though we have traveled different paths and have had varied experiences in our lives,  the common bond of having known each other in our youth and having grown up in Enid, Oklahoma has made us a close group.  What a blessing they are to me. They know who they are and I can only say to each and every one of them, “thank you for being a part of my life.” 

 Leon and I moved from Las Vegas, Nevada to Denton, Texas (outside of Dallas) in 2004 and are still adjusting  to our new environment. We have moved twenty times in our married life and enjoy buying a new home and starting over from scratch. I love the interior decorating part of it so that‘s always an incentive for me to relocate. We are both Californians at heart, having lived in that state 23 years of our married life and would prefer living in the Rancho Mirage area of California to anywhere we have lived or visited.  So, we have no idea whether we will stay  in Texas or move back to California in the future.

Leon and I have been married forty seven years.  He has been a good supportive husband and I couldn’t ask for more. I appreciate him very much and can’t imagine life without him. For those of you who know him, I am sure you will agree with me when I say, “he’s one of a kind.”

I wish each of you the best and I look forward to seeing ALL of you, October 4 – 6, 2007, at our BIG 50th in Enid, Oklahoma.

{Richard with Myrna Kay Eck at left}
{Richard in his restored 1955 Thunderbird}

Richard Eck

Reading the biographies of my classmates is very interesting; what you did, your experiences, etc. Now for my story.

After graduating from Enid High School, I fulfilled my military obligation in the US Army. I then attended Phillips University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. While in college and for 17 years thereafter, I worked as a senior accountant with Champlin Petroleum Company in Enid. During this time, I continued my studies at Phillips in pursuit of a Master’s Degree in Accounting. When Champlin transferred to Fort Worth, Texas, I applied and was accepted into training to become an agent with the Internal Revenue Service. For the next 24 years, I served as an agent in the examination division of IRS, retiring in October, 2003. What an experience!

I married Myrna Kay Born, a 1956 graduate of EHS in 1959. Myrna Kay worked for OG&E 14 years and then for Alva State Bank and Trust Company as an Assistant Vice President for 27 years.

Myrna Kay and I adopted a baby boy, Timothy Scott, in 1968 and a baby girl, Sheila Diana in 1970. Timothy and his wife, Julie, reside in Roswell, Georgia and have a son, Ryan (6) and a daughter, Reagan (2). Tim and Julie graduated from the University of Oklahoma. Tim is a manager with a technology firm and Julie is a CPA. Our daughter Sheila Goldsworthy and her husband Mark reside in Stillwater and are the parents of a daughter Kate (10) and a son Luke (7). Sheila is a graduate of Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma Medical School. Mark is a graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma. Sheila is an MD (OB/GYN) and Mark is a full time Mr. Mom.

Since my retirement, I have enjoyed my freedom. I, like Jim Lewis and Carl Mitcham, enjoy a classic car hobby. I attend various car shows and homecoming events where I have made many friends. In addition, I volunteer at the Horn of Plenty, the local food bank that feeds the poor and needy. I serve on the board of directors and have chaired the two city-wide food drives each year for the past 4 years. I am also an active member of my church.

In closing, I have had many memories over the years, and EHS memories are some of the best. Finally, I am looking forward to seeing all of you at the reunion.

Harold (Hal) Daugherty
{Hal is pictured with wife, Darby}
A young Hal is pictured in Navy attire at right.

Born January 3, 1939 to Abner and Lee Ella Daugherty on a farm north of El Reno, OK. One brother, Ronald Daugherty, deceased November 10, 1998. We moved to Long Beach, CA in 1943 . My dad worked in the shipyard. Than we moved to National City, CA, where I started school in 1944. My parents divorced in 1948 after 14 years of marriage. Ron and I moved to Kingfisher, OK to live with our grandparents , Marion and Esther Thomason. I attended 6th 7th and 8th grades and lettered in all sports. In the summer of 1953 we moved to Enid, OK. I started the 9th grade at Emerson Jr. High. Being one of the new guys on the block, I made new friends playing football, basketball and track. Lettered in all 3. I ran around with Bales, Brummett, Sampson, Frantz, Gibson, Ruth, Hinson, Bowart, Huston, Lichtenberg, and George Holmes, to name a few when I wasn’t over at Judy Geigers “my study girl friend”.

High school was a different story. I was not a good student. Main focus was on football and girls {NO NAMES}. I suffered a knee injury my junior year but still lettered. On March 1st, 1956, I quit school, joined the U.S. Navy and never looked back to that time. Received my G.E.D. while in the Navy. My first duty station was the Naval Air Station, Corpus Christie, TX, boat division, sea rescue, beach and re-arm seaplanes. While at Corpus went T.D.Y, to US Naval Underwater swimmers school, SubBase Key West FL. In 1957 after 14 months I left for the Naval Amphibian Base in Coronado, CA. Then to Long Beach CA , Terminal Island. I was assigned to the Special Projects Unit , Atomic Energy Commission for Operation Hardtack 1, Eniwetok proving ground test series of atomic weapons and devices from April until June 1958. After returning to the states, I received my last assigned orders to the N.A.S. Ford Island, Territory of Hawaii. On arrival, I was assigned to the boat division again. However, the Special Services Officer changed my orders to base lifeguard at the swimming pools. I left Hawaii 14 months later with very dark skin. In November 1959, I separated from the Service at Naval Depot, Treasure Island, San Francisco

Upon returning to Enid, OK, I did civil service work at Vance AFB Crash fire department for 5 years. Positions held were crew chief and assigned station captain. Linda Smith (class of 1958) and I were married in 1960. We have 2 children. Dirk, born in 1961, and Denise born in 1962. Because of union labor problems in 1965, I left the Fire Department and started working for The Western Company of North America. – Western specializes in pressure pumping service, acidizing, fracturing, and cementing oil and gas wells. In 1979 Linda and I divorced. In 1980, Darby Ann and I were married at St. Matthews Episcopal Church, Enid, OK. She had 3 children from a previous marriage: Gloria, Kelly, and Michael Hamlin.. In 1986 Western closed the yard in Enid and I was transferred to Yukon, OK. I retired in 1995 at age 56 1/2 with 30 years service and a full pension for life. Positions held with the company included equipment operator 1, 11, 111, 1V,V, District Trainer, Service Supervisor, Field Sales and Service Rep.

Darby and I have lived in the Oklahoma City area for over 21 years. Our 5 children live in Texas and Oklahoma. We have 5 grandsons, 4 granddaughters, 3 sons-in-law, and 1 daughter-in-law. We are enjoying retirement and just returned from the Black Hills where we discovered that we forgot about the motorcycle party at Sturgis, SD. So we shared the road with thousands of motorcycles. We were VERY fortunate to find 1 motel room. We also attended Darby’s all school reunion in Sioux City, Iowa.

I am looking forward to deer season—-the only hunting I do anymore…..So we will see all of you in October.
Take Care and GOD Bless!
Hal

Gretchen Fields-Massey  (Deceased)

I lost the love of my life “Billy Vacin” after his accident and then, his decision for me to go on with my life without him after my graduation. I guess I thought I should hurry, so I married the next year and had 3 sons, Clay, Curtis and Gary Cody, by 1964. We lived in Enid.

I went to work when Gary was 5. I worked for Dr. Stafford for 10 years, and left this job to work for Emergent Health as Office Manager. This only lasted 2 years as this was Doctors that ran St. Mary’s ER and their contract was not renewed. While working for doctors I joined American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). I was President for 2 years and also served on the Board of the state AAMA.

After 23 years of marriage I divorced my husband “Willie Parsons” and remarried three years later. My son “Gary” was murdered at age 22 by a gunshot wound to the head. Thank God I had not been working for about a year at that time. I joined Parents of Murdered Children and Compassionate Friends. These are 2 very good support groups and becoming active in these groups was a good decision for me. I started writing some poetry, which was very cathartic. One of my poems was published in the Bereavement Magazine and later I was asked if I wanted it published in a bereavement poetry book, “FOOD FOR THE SOUL”. Losing by son was, by far, my worse life experience but the meetings and poetry helped me a lot. Unfortunately my marriage suffered and again I divorced.

I moved to Oklahoma City and worked for the Oklahoma City Public Schools as an elementary Principal’s Secretary for 10 years. The Johnson School population was about 1/3 disabled children and this experience was quite rewarding. While I was working there I adopted my 2 year old Grandson, Sam. He was born of drug addicted parents and suffered from severe anger and behavioral problems. He has been in and out of the hospitals 4 times and is in again. He will need to be placed out of my home in a group or ranch environment through his teen years with visitation restricted to our family. This has been very difficult for Sam and me but we are very grateful for the help we have been given and for all the lessons we have learned . We will be okay with the help of God and prayers from our friends. God has even brought a man into my life after being by myself for 10 years and handling everything alone.

I moved back to Enid in 2005 and live in my Mother’s Home. My son Curtis lives in Enid with his wife, Toni. They have 2 grown married daughters; one has a son named “Hudson” and Curtis has 1 son age 23 living in Florida. Clay lives in Oklahoma City and is doing great. His children consist of a son 23 and daughter 19 who live in Enid. My Granddaughter has a baby girl, “Serenity” born in December, 2006.

Barbara Failing

After graduating from high school, I attended Monticello College for Women in Illinois for one year. Then, I attended the University of Oklahoma for two years, and while there, I met my husband Mickey, a Sooner football player. He graduated in January of 1961, and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army. We were married in August of 1961, and moved to FT. Benning, Georgia, and then to Germany for three years, where our daughter, Laura, was born. When we returned home, Mickey went to work for Texaco.

We moved several times over the years and lived in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Alabama, Texas, and Tennessee. When we lived in Birmingham, Alabama, after being out of college for 17 years, I returned to college and received a degree in elementary education from the University of Alabama in Birmingham; I taught school for 8 years. When Mickey retired in 2004, we lived in Franklin, Tennessee. We moved from Franklin, Tennessee to Frisco, Texas to be near both our families. Our two sons live in Frisco, my brothers, Jerry and George live in Tulsa, and other family members live in Oklahoma and Texas.

We have 3 children, Laura (died in 1989 at the age of 26), Jeff (38), and Jay (36), and 6 grandchildren ranging in age from 2 to 21. Mickey and I have been married 46 years and feel so blessed to live close to our family, have good health, and wonderful friends.

I will always have good memories of growing up in Enid, and the life-long friends that I made there. I’m looking forward to seeing each of you, and will miss those who are unable to attend.

Barbara Failing Jackson

Arlene McLemore Shore

My years of attending school were very difficult for me because of my extreme shyness which kept me from being active or interacting with classmates and school functions. My father’s battle with TB and cancer made it necessary for me to work while in high school. I worked at Moler Drug during high school, becoming acquainted with many people in the community and making many lasting friendships.

At eighteen I married Larry Lacy and we had three beautiful daughters. With few professional skills I set out to self-teach and to attend school as I could afford it. For five years I operated my own successful business, “Lacy’s Day Care and Play School”. Larry and I divorced after ten years of marriage. I met and married Tom Smith, a chiropractor. I became the business manager and received many achievements in the medical field. I was recognized by Governor Nigh and the state chiropractic association for initiating and promoting a state-wide scoliosis awareness program. I became a workshop leader, trained chiropractic assistants in office procedures, and served as state president for the women’s auxiliary of the Chiropractor Association for three years. I worked as the Clinic Administrator for Smith Chiropractic for thirty years.

At the age of 40 Tom and I had a son, Thomas. This birth was very “touch and go” for both mother and child with many complications. I am happy to say that through much prayer and support of many we both overcame all obstacles. My son, Thomas, is a very highly skilled computer expert. After 10 years this marriage ended in divorce, but I continued to work as the Clinic Administrator.

Still struggling with shyness and the inability to express and share feelings, a friend introduced me to Toastmasters (a communication and leadership program). During the first year I just hated it. It was a difficult challenge. But through much encouragement and steadfast determination I found myself in a leadership position and began to develop communications and leadership skills.

I earned the highest personal award; i.e. the Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) twice; recognized by Toastmasters in District 16 (state of Oklahoma) as Outstanding Area Governor, Outstanding Division Governor, and Outstanding Toastmaster, Top Achiever and Fun Vest Recipient. Toastmasters International awarded me the Excellence in Marketing Award, Excellence in Education and Training Award, and Distinguished District Governor; serving in all levels of leadership in the state, with the highest level being District Governor.

Through personal growth and self confidence, I have been able to serve my community in various ways: Past chairman of Enid Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors (Ambassador of the Year, 1993); member of Kiwanis Club; member of Ambucs; Lions Club; League of Woman of Voters (president); Square Dance Association in Oklahoma (state coordinator for singles and northwest publicity chair); Queen founder of a Redhat group of 100 members; and received the March of Dimes “Salute to Women of Achievement Philanthropy” from the Garfield County Business Women of the Year. I worked with the Boy Scouts many years with Thomas receiving the Eagle Scout award with Four Palms. I owned and operated Arlene’s Stress Free Exercise business for 10 years.

I served as the director of the Northwest Area Women’s Retreat and as program chairman for the state cabinet program for the Disciples of Christ church.

I am currently married to Harold Shore, a retired Christian Church minister. I am the proud mother of four children, eight grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. I am the proud owner of a black lab (Smokey). My life is filled with working, community involvement and family. The Lord has really been good to me and has allowed me to achieve and experience many things.

Arlene
Looking forward to 50th Reunion of the 1957 Class

Alan Yoder

After graduating from Tulsa University in 1962 I worked in information technology for a variety of companies. Some of my favorites include AM General where I was Chief Intelligence Officer (CIO). We designed and built the humvee. I also served as CIO for Porter Hospital in Denver, Lovelace Health Systems in Albuquerque, and Sutter Health in Sacramento. The University of California will pay me to quit work in January.

I have been building homes in Durango, Colorado, for about seven years. My son Matt is my partner in that business. My other three children, Heidi, Dave, and Luke have provided six grand daughters and one grand son. (Have pity on the one grandson). My wife, Connie, and I will be moving to Durango where I will be an Associate Pastor with the local Seventh Day Adventist Church. God Bless.

Alan Yoder