Ruth Granger O'Quinn
| Ruth Margaret Granger "Pill" O'Quinn (American educator and | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| Born | May 12, 1925 Pollock, Grant Parish, Louisiana | ||
| Died | May 31, 2021 (aged 96) Alexandria, Louisiana Resting place: | ||
| Spouse | Hansel Benson O'Quinn, Sr. (married 1943-1967, hs death)
Children: | ||
Ruth Margaret Granger O'Quinn (May 12, 1925 – May 31, 2021)[1] was a pioneer in public education and the Southern Baptist denomination in Alexandria, Louisiana.[2]
Background
A native of Pollock in Grant Parish, O'Quinn was one of five children James Andrew Granger (1902-1963) and the former Ruth Margaret Clinton (1902-1974). She graduated magna cum laude from Baptist-affiliated Louisiana College in Pineville and received a master's degree from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana.[2]
Career
In December 1959, O'Quinn began a 25-year teaching career, with all but the first two of those years in Rapides Parish, including Tioga High School, Bolton High School, and Alexandria Senior High School. In her last sixteen years, she was the chairman of the the English Department at Alexandria Senior High.[2]
O'Quinn was involved in national, state, and local professional organizations for educators and was a vocal proponent of student and teacher interests. She often reminded others that the two essentials for a school were students and teachers while others were only supporters. She was president of the Louisiana Association of Classroom Teacher at both the state and local levels and served on the parish committee for the integration of faculties. She was elected as the first president of the integrated Rapides Parish Association of Educators. After she retired from teaching in 1985, she was elected in 1987 to the Rapides Parish School Board. She fought control of education through collective bargaining.[2]
O'Quinn was listed in Who's Who of American Women and in 2000 to Who's Who in American Education. She was recognized by Governor Murphy James "Mike" Foster, Jr., for her "lifetime of dedicated service in the field of education, serving the citizens of Louisiana as a teacher and school board member."[2]
In 2000, Louisiana College dedicated the Ruth O'Quinn Center for Liberal Arts and Professional Studies on the LC campus. She was also honored by the college as "Distinguished Alumni in 2013-2014."[2]
O'Quinn was a particularly active member of Emmanuel Baptist Church in downtown Alexandria. She worked on numerous church committees and was the first woman to serve on the church's board of trustees.[1]
Nicknamed "Pill," O'Quinn was preceded in death by her husband, Hansel Benson O'Quinn, Sr. (1916-1963), son Hansel "Chip" O'Quinn, Jr. (1947-1980), surrogate son and husband's nephew, John Maurice O'Quinn (1941-2009), a high-powered attorney in Houston, Texas;[3] sisters, Jimmie Lois Granger Caffey (1927-2017) and Marion Jane Granger Morrison (1932-2017) and her husband, Edward Insley Morrison (1931-2016). She was survived by her daughter, Carol Anne O'Quinn (born 1954), of Alexandria, a sister, Shirley Granger Swor, and two brothers, Harold A. Granger and wife, Laura, and Phillip W. Granger and wife, Gayle.[2]
Along with her husband and son, she is interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Ball in Rapides Parish.[4]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ruth O'Quinn, 96. Mylife.com. Retrieved on June 3, 2021.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Ruth O'Quinn obituary. Alexandria Town Talk (June 1, 2021). Retrieved on June 3, 202`=June 3, 2021.
- ↑ John Maurice O'Quinn. Findagrave.com. Retrieved on June 5, 2021.
- ↑ Ruth Margaret Granger O'Quinn. Findagrave.com. Retrieved on June 5, 2021.
