Two large donations were recently made in Henryetta courtesy of the W.R. “Dick” and Hazel Stubbs Living Trust. One donation was made to the Church of the Nazarene and the
Two large donations were recently made in Henryetta courtesy of the W.R. “Dick” and Hazel Stubbs Living Trust.
One donation was made to the Church of the Nazarene and the other was to Henryetta High School in the amount of $129,000.
What a lot of people don’t know is that Stubbs was a commercial pilot on both land and sea with single and multi-engine ratings.
In addition, he had an instrument rating and piloted his own twin-engine airplane.
“For Dick Stubbs, the words and phrases come easy - perfectionist, a deep and abiding love for people, churchman and pilot, in the bush or on the nation’s airways, who ranks with the very best,” C.R. Musgrave, Jr. said in 1983.
A veteran of the U.S. Army during World War II, Stubbs was the son of a coal miner.
He began his career as a truck driver and started his own truck business.
For 10 years, he was the Mayor of Henryetta and chairman of the board of Green Country, Inc., which was a 21-county organization that was created for the promotion of industry and tourism in the eastern part of Oklahoma.
Stubbs was also on various board which included the Northeastern Oklahoma State University Education Foundation, the Oklahoma Good Roads and Streets Association and the Oklahoma Bicentennial Commission.
Both he and Hazel were longtime members of the Church of the Nazarene.
“W.R. Stubbs was a Christian gentleman and an outstanding citizen, well-loved and admired by all who knew him in Henryetta, Okmulgee County and all across Oklahoma,” long-time friend Marcus Whitworth said.
“The stretch of Hwy. 75 between Dewar and Henryetta is dedicated to him. He and his dear wife, Hazel worked very hard, made sound decisions and investments and became wealthy. However, the Stubbs were known for their generosity and benevolence in the church and community.
“W.R. Stubbs was very warm-hearted and friendly to everyone. He loved to shake your hand and greet you with a genuine smile. He was a tremendous storyteller and he loved to share his wealth of varied adventures and experiences,” Whitworth proudly said.
Stubbs shared stories of airplanes that he flew and trucks he owned and operated.
“W.R. was soft spoken, never raised his voice and yet his listeners would lean in to hear all that he had to say. One of his legacies is a large housing division in Henryetta, up on the 3rd Street hill, called ‘Stubbs Estates,’” Whitworth said.
For all those that attended Stubbs’ funeral, they witnessed a full-house at the Henryetta Church of the Nazarene. Among those attending his funeral was George Nigh, retired Oklahoma Governor, who sat on the very front pew, Whitworth added.
When speaking of Stubbs and his wife Hazel, those who knew them expressed admiration for their amazing and selfless generosity and were honored to have been in their presence.
Their memory will continue to live on through their friends and family who knew them so well.