Lawton Fort Sill is the community I grew up in. Though I was not born in Lawton, I have resided here for more than twenty-five years and I consider Lawton to be my hometown. The military brought my family to this community in 1992. This is the town that floods my memories as a child. Some of the fondest memories include climbing trees in the summer time, admiring the Indian Paintbrushes in the spring, and seeing the deer fill the field behind our home in Medicine Bluff Heights.
Lawton Fort Sill has a variety of options when it comes to education. I attended Swinney Elementary, Geronimo Elementary, MacArthur Junior High and MacArthur High School. The educators that pour their hearts and souls into the students in this town are profound. These teachers grow students in so many aspects – from helping them to develop their speech and learning to read, to introducing them to different types of music and teaching them manners. The list goes on and on. These individuals touched my life as a student and I know they touch many lives. It makes me proud that we have people in this city that are so deeply passionate about the future of our children.
At sixteen, I was eager to get my first job because my closest friends were a year older and had already started in the workforce. I applied for a position with a local, family-owned retail store. The family embraced me as a young junior in high school with lots of aspirations. This family owned business taught me about working hard; they taught me about sacrifice, vision, responsibility and accountability. The customers that came through were loyal to this store because they knew they could come in with a problem and leave with a solution. This level of service was consistent from this business. Customers were not just customers, they became your friends – some, even lifelong friends.
I had intended on going to college out of town but I decided to attend Cameron University for at least the first year. After my first year of college, I had no intention of leaving. I became very active in multiple organizations at Cameron University. The opportunities afforded by Cameron University are numerous. No matter what your interests are or your career goals, they have something for everyone. Aggie Escape was a program for incoming freshmen that allowed current students to make connections, learn about the university’s traditions, and hear about how to become involved. Through the Student Government Association, students would come together to create legislation to help improve the campus and learn about the parliamentary process. I went through the recruitment process at Cameron University and chose to join Alpha Phi. The sorority not only offered a community of sisterhood but philanthropy also. While attending Cameron University, I was the President of the Student Government Association and the President of my sorority, Alpha Phi. I graduated with two Bachelor’s degrees. To this day, I still enjoy visiting the campus and attending events there. I’m so proud to be a Cameron Aggie!
In May 2008, I made a career change and started working for the City of Lawton as a part-time dispatcher for the Emergency Communications division. While working for dispatch, I met my husband who also works for the City of Lawton. We married in 2011, and I transitioned from working part-time to full-time as a dispatcher. Later in the year, I advanced to Shift Supervisor. In 2017, I was promoted to the Emergency Communications Manager. The Emergency Communications Center is something that Lawton should be very proud of. The dispatchers are professional public servants that can aid citizens in any crisis. They are trained and certified as Emergency Police, Fire, and Medical Dispatchers. Whether the emergency involves a missing child, a structure fire, or a vehicle accident, the first first-responders of Lawton will be there from the beginning to the end.
Lawton is so versatile in offering options for hobbies and entertainment, which is something my family loves. We often visit Elmer Thomas Park to swing, slide, and run around. And of course, visiting the ducks is always a must. In the summer time, the splash park is a perfect place to enjoy the hot sun, cool off, and then have a picnic with family and friends. For day dates during the summer, my husband and I dive at Lake Elmer Thomas Recreation Area (LETRA). During the cooler times of the year, we visit the AMC Class Patriot 13 IMAX to catch a movie. Currently, our weekends are occupied with soccer games at the Big Green Fields. It is important to me to live in a town that offers a variety of attractions for family, as well as adult, outings.
Lawton is my home and the home in which I am now raising my family. Every achievement in my life – be it a career promotion, college degree, or new personal adventure – has taken place right here in Lawton. I am proud to be a Lawtonian and to be a part of a community that is so diverse and family-oriented. I am Lawton Proud.