By Audrey Dodgen/Staff Writer

An educator, a civil servant and an active volunteer, all graduates of El Reno High School, were honored for their achievements Monday night.

El Reno Public Schools Foundation named Wanda Oneth Wolf, James Moore and Betty Matthies Johnston as the 2005 Distinguished Alumni honorees.

The three award recipients shared their memories of growing up in El Reno to the assembled crowd of residents and educators.

Wolf, a 1964 graduate of EHS, said the root of her success was a work ethic instilled in her by her parents.

“I learned a great deal from my parents. I learned the importance of family, of integrity and of a strong work ethic,” she said.

Wolf said both of her parents encouraged her to become a teacher, though her aim was to become a nurse. Ultimately, she combined both her goal and her parents’ dream for her and became a nursing instructor.

“I learned from my mother about the value of education. I also learned that women need to have an education to be able to support themselves. She encouraged me to get my bachelor’s degree, even if I wanted to be a nurse,” she said.

Wolf has been involved in teaching in health occupations for 35 years and has been honored by a number of organizations for her efforts. Her greatest accomplishment, though, has been her three children, she said.

“Wendy, Wes and Wade are my greatest achievement. They are all happily married and are successful in their careers. Their lives honor me and they honor their grandparents,” she said.

Johnston, class of 1966, opened her address with a memory from her days of riding the school bus.

“One day, we were stuck in the snow and we were stuck so long that by the time they got us out, there was only an hour before school let out. So they just put us on another bus and sent us home,” she said.

Johnston, who is active in historical preservation at Fort Reno, said her education left her with a desire to continue learning and to pass on knowledge to others.

“We are involved in a lot of historical re-enacting for the enjoyment and education of young people,” she said.

Everywhere she goes, she meets people from El Reno, or connected to El Reno, she said.
“It’s both a big world and a small one, and you see connections everywhere,” she said.
If she had the opportunity to relive her youth, she would have endeavored to make her education more specific and less general, she said.

Johnston also said the most important thing she learned was to treat others well.

“Always be nice, even if it takes a count to 10 to do it,” she said.

Finally, she urged the audience to seek as many experiences in life as possible.

“Don’t waste your time. Get as much into a lifetime as you can,” she said.

James Moore, a 1951 graduate of EHS who is now serving in his eighth year as mayor of El Reno, said his award was a reflection on the many people who helped him as a young man.

“I appreciate everyone who has helped me. No one does this alone,” he said.

Moore said the skills he learned at EHS helped him during his tour of duty in the Army, where he added to his set of skills.

“After I graduated from high school, I was invited by the president of the United States to become all I could be. Well, it was less of an invitation and more like being drafted,” he said.

“In high school, I took typing, and everyone asked why I wanted to take that class with all the girls. When I was in the Army, I would be typing, and I would look out the window and see all the other guys rolling around in the sand and dirt. So it really helped.”

Moore thanked his wife and children for helping him in life.

“I am blessed with a wife of noble character. I am blessed with sons and grandsons who work with me in my business, which was established by my parents,” he said.

Moore also shared advice with the students in his audience.

“Teachers can teach, but if you don’t learn, you have failed yourself. The teacher has not failed. You have,” he said.

All three of the recipients were honored with individual proclamations from the Oklahoma Legislature, which were read by El Reno Secondary Schools Principal Matt Goucher.