Bio, 2014: Laura Berry Arrington Nigliazzo
After reading many of your autobiographies/resumes I finally decided to add mine to the group. Although I did not go to high school with all of you I lived in Stillwater and attended grade school and Jr. High school with many of you. I still have today many relatives in Stillwater and return several times a year for business and pleasure.I attended Westwood Elementary and then Eugene Fields.Then I went with you to Stillwater Jr high in the original building. My family moved my Freshman year to Oklahoma City and I attended high school where I became a John Marshall “Bear”, graduated, and then did the unspeakable act to OSU fans by attending Oklahoma University. (I couldn’t go back “home”, I guess some type of rebellion.) I still have so many great memories of all of you. I remember we sat in class lined up alphabetically, played kick ball, square danced, and suffered with no air-conditioning. I also remember what a big deal it was to buy chocolate milk from the machine on our morning breaks. I’m guessing you could add thousands of memories to those.
I met my husband, Luke Nigliazzo, while in college and we have been married since 1966. He was in Pharmacy school and I studied fine arts graduating in 1968. Two people, one being right brained and the other left brained, has made for very interesting trot through life together. After college graduation, we returned to the OKC area later moving to Edmond OK where we lived until 2004. I chose to be a full time Mom raising 4 fantastic children (3 boys & 1 girl), and today have 15 grandchildren. Do I win the prize for the most grandkids? During all those years, I did end up teaching art, taking more art classes, showing in juried shows and serving on many civic committees and boards. I was elected and served a 10 year period (two terms) on the Deer Creek School Board, Edmond OK, where my children attended school . During the years on the board I helped make many improvements, built new schools and hired teachers and expanded curriculum. Now with grown children, my husband and I are retired and are living the good life traveling in our RV visiting the kids all over the United states.
When I became the age to apply for Social Security my Stillwater connection made all the difference. A mistake had been made on my birth certificate. Someone had marked the spot at my birth for gender-MALE. At the time we purchased our marriage license that mistake was “hand“ corrected. As you all are aware, all of our records were kept by hand before computers changed the world and became the ultimate authority on everything. Now the computer said I was a man so the government decided that I was-male. Nothing I could do would convince the agents other wise. After months of discussion, including Dr’s notes, I was desperate. I now live in San Antonio, Texas and made a special trip to OK to visit the Stillwater courthouse for help.The hospital records were gone, as well as other documentation of my life. I thought the trip was a failure. Finally a clerk at the courthouse remembered that some old school records had been placed on the computer and she asked if I remembered the name of my elementary school. Of course, I remembered I had attended Westwood! Sure enough, I was a little GIRL in Mrs.Colvin's first grade class! A copy of that document did the trick. I was able to qualify for my Social Security benefits with my first grade record in hand.
Well, this is enough reminiscing of a “lady of a certain age”. I do remember you and the good old days. Best wishes to all for a fantastic reunion.
©2009 Stillwater High School Class of 1964