Published: November 05, 2009 09:07 am      

USAO graduate adds new title to her list

Editor’s Note: This is the second of a three-part series on the distinguished individuals who will be honored by the USAO Alumni Association at this year's annual Homecoming on Nov. 6-8.

She's been called many things -- teacher, secretary, bookkeeper, receptionist, writer, artist, actor, singer -- but this year Emma Jean Smith Stover gets a new title: USAO Alumni Hall of Fame honoree. Smith will be honored this year as she is inducted into the Hall of Fame during Alumni Homecoming at USAO Nov. 6-8.

Stover will be honored along with fellow inductee Vicki Easley and Young Alumni Award recipient Andrea Wood Brock during the Nov. 7 ceremony. Homecoming registrations still are being accepted for all alumni at the USAO Alumni Development Office, (405) 574-1290. Registration packages for the entire weekend are $50, which is an all-inclusive package that includes all meals.

Stover graduated from the Oklahoma College for Women (now USAO) in 1950 with a bachelor's degree in business education. Although she has worked at many different occupations, her favorite was teaching.

Stover started her career as a substitute teacher in Oklahoma City. She taught at Alex Public Schools and in Texas and Colorado before teaching for 23 years at Western Oaks Junior High in Putnam City.

She officially retired from teaching in 1986, but continued to teach as a substitute in Putnam City, Bethany and Western Heights. Stover tutored in the Indian Education Department of Putnam City and has taught writing classes at Francis Tuttle Vo-Tech, retirement centers and at OSU-OKC.

Stover has taught Sunday school in her church in classes ranging from two year-olds to adults. She also taught a special class for children and Conversational English to internationals.

In addition to teaching, she is an artist, actor and author.

Several of her oil paintings have received awards. She has participated in nine drama productions, as well as other drama presentations at her church.

In addition to productions, she has appeared in seven television commercials.

Stover is an award-winning author. She has written short stories, articles and poetry in Mature Living, Cappers, ByLine Magazine and others. She has published a chapbook of poetry and the book To God Be The Glory, which received the Gaskin Church History Award for Meritorious Achievement.

She is currently writing a non-fiction book about the Sirloin Stockade and Lorenz family murders.

Stover also is a singer. She is active in The Glory Gang, a senior adult choir.

She is a part of the Sanctuary Choir at her church as well as in The Singing Seniors of the Capital Baptist Association.

She is active in the USAO Alumni Association. Stover has two children, Janie and John. John graduated from USAO with a degree in drama and John’s wife, Vickie Samara, also graduated from USAO.

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