Henryetta high school admistrators got a whale of a Christmas gift Friday afternoon.
A bequest of $129,150 was presented to the school from the Woodrow Rickard (W.R.) Stubbs charitable remainder trust.
Michael Hopper from the Tulsa-based Trust Company of Oklahoma presented the check to high school principal Kelly Furer and superintendent Dwayne Noble at the conclusion of a special assembly.
The donation followed the death of W.R. “Dick” Stubbs’ wife, Hazel, this past spring.
Officials from the trust company worked from May through October to get the Foundation’s assets accounted for and funds divided according to the family’s wishes.
Stubbs was the son of a coal miner in Henryetta and started out as a truck driver. He established the Stubbs trucking company then became involved in Henryetta and Oklahoma affairs.
That included a ten-year stint as mayor of Henryetta and chairman of the board of Green Country, the organization that promotes industry and tourism in northeastern Oklahoma.
He also served on boards including the Northeastern Oklahoma State University Education Foundation, Oklahoma Good Roads and Streets Association and served on the Oklahoma Bicentennial Commission.
He was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1985. He died in 2003 at the age of 89. His wife, Hazel, died last November at the age of 94. They had two children, Lou and Dickie. Both graduated from Henryetta high school.
Furer was first notified about the funds in a phone call last month from Hopper. She said she thought it was a hoax at first and when she found out the money was real, she was speechless. “She put the phone down and it was quite a minute then I heard her yell, ‘Praise Jesus!,’” Hopper told the students and teachers at the assembly.
After the presentation, Furer and Noble said they want to take their time to find out how to use the money best. “I do want to hear what our students want to say also that of our teachers. This is a great way to showcase their talents.”
Noble said, “this is a wonderful gift to the school. We will use it to help the kids and will see the fruits from it for a long time.” He pointed out the priority will be on student improvement first. “This validates the kids efforts. They have worked hard.”
Hopper said similar bequests from the Stubbs trust will be going to both the city of Henryetta as well as the nazarene Church, the family called home.
“I regret not knowing the Stubbs family personally,” he said. “I don’t think they make people like the Stubbs’ any more.”
HHS teacher Tracy Sontag described Dick and Hazel Stubbs in glowing terms.
“W.R. Stubbs was a Christian gentleman and an outstanding citizen, well-loved and admired by all who knew him in Henryetta, Okmulgee County, and all across Oklahoma. The stretch of US 75 Highway between Dewar and Henryetta is dedicated to him. He and his dear wife, Hazel worked very hard, made sound decisions and investments and became wealthy. However, the Stubbs were known for their generosity and benevolence in the Church and Community. W.R. Stubbs was very warm hearted and friendly to everyone. He loved to shake your hand and greet you with a genuine smile. He was a tremendous storyteller and he loved to share his wealth of varied adventures and experiences.