Osage County, Oklahoma, Obituary: OREN TERRILL Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joann Brazee Osage County News Service (OCNS) http://ocns.freeyellow.com/ Email: ocns@hotmail.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ OREN TERRILL OCNS-December 20, 1999 -Oren Terrill, former superintendent of schools in Pawhuska, Oklahoma and a leader in education for the state, died December 13, 1999 at his home in Pawhuska. He was born September 5, 1912, in Bland, Missouri, to Millard Fillmore and Mary Belle (Jones) Terrill and grew up in Collinsville, Oklahoma. He received his B.S. Degree from Northeastern State College, Tahlequah, OK., his M. S. Degree from Oklahoma A&M College, Stillwater, OK. and His E.D.S. Degree from Oklahoma State University. He began his teaching career in Inola, OK, then moved to Stigler, OK and later to Putnam City, OK. While in Putnam City he taught business, coached basketball and baseball, served as high school principal and interim superintendent. In 1945 he moved to Davis, OK and served as superintendent for 6 years and in 1951 he became superintendent of the schools in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, retiring in 1978 after 43 years in education. Mr. Terrill loved competitive sports. He played semi-pro baseball and was on the college tennis team. He played, coached and refereed basketball. For over 40 years he made an annual fishing trip to Canada. In 1976 the Pawhuska School Board honored him by naming the new field house - Oren Terrill Field House. He was active in education at the local, county, state and national levels. He was a firm believer in education for all students and wrote the pilot program for Title III, which was later a pattern for districts throughout the nation. He served as Chairman of the State Curriculum Commission, the Chairman of the State Teachers Certification Commission 1960-61, member of the State Legislative Committee for Retired Teachers, was a member of the Osage County and the Oklahoma State Retired Educators and a Life Member of the N.E.A. He was president of the Oklahoma School Administrators Association 1959-60, president of the Northeastern District of the O.E.A., and president of the Osage County Retired Educators. In 1993 Northeastern State University honored him as it's Outstanding Alumnus and Osage County Retired Educators Association selected him as a Very Important Member. Mr. Terrill was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Pawhuska and was a 43 year member of the Kiwanis Club. He was very active in community affairs receiving a Certificate of Appreciation from the City of Pawhuska and was chosen as Grand Marshall for the Christmas Parade in 1998. On July 27, 1940, he and Helen Gier were united in marriage and in 1990 they celebrated 50 years of marriage. He is survived by Helen, his wife of 59 years, his daughters and their husbands, Janet Kay and John Main of Tulsa, Jean Ann and Dan Simmons of Pawhuska, grandchildren John Terrill and Lea Main, Helen Lerie Main, Jonelle Lee and Brad Booth, Terrill Gier Simmons and his sister and brother-in-law Freda and Lyle Disch of Vera, OK. He enjoyed and appreciated his family and many friends. They will miss him greatly. Memorials may be made to The Oren Terrill Scholarship Fund, c/o The First National Bank, P. 0. Box 809, Pawhuska, Oklahoma 74056. Services were held at 2:00 P.M., Saturday, December 18. 1999 in The Oren Terrill Field House in Pawhuska with interment in The Pawhuska Cemetery. Johnson's Funeral Home, Pawhuska was in charge.