Trustee Ann Simmons Alspaugh passed away in her home Sept. 20. Alspaugh was the mother of three, the grandmother of seven, an executive, a community leader, a patron of the arts, and a philanthropist.
“Ann began her service on the OCU Board of Trustees in 1981, and she is one of the longest-serving members of the Societies of Oklahoma City University. She received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from OCU in 1986,” wrote President Robert Henry in an email to the campus community.
Alspaugh was born in Duncan, Oklahoma, on Dec. 13, 1934, the daughter of Marjorie Simmons Alspaugh Gray and Howard Beason Alspaugh. Her step father, Robert Mark Gray, was an advertising executive for Exxon. Alspaugh is also the granddaughter of Ola Mixson Simmons and Louis Bascom “L.B.” Simmons. L.B. founded the Rocket Oil Company of Duncan, Oklahoma and the Rock Island Refining Companies whose pipelines and other assets were merged into Koch Industries.
Alspaugh attended Duncan High School in Duncan, Oklahoma. When she graduated, she attended Smith College and later University of Oklahoma, where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. With her first husband, Paul Anthony Andres, Alspaugh had three children.
The honorary degree bestowed upon her by OCU, the long associations with The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and the Oklahoma School of Science and Math, and the degrees in law, medicine and business achieved by her children were sources of great pride.
Over the course of her long life, Alspaugh dedicated herself to the enrichment of Oklahoma and the often anonymous care of those in immediate need. In return, the state honored her with membership into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.
“Ann intuitively understood the need for a broad education and the beauty of the fine arts,” Henry said. “She loved Oklahoma City and exercised both generosity and intellect to enhance the culture of our city. She lived with beauty and grace, and perhaps that is why she understood the need to keep Oklahoma City moving forward. Her belief in Oklahoma City’s university and OCU students was unequaled. She leaves a legacy of service and love.”
Alspaugh’s awards include, but are not limited, to:
- OCU’s Distinguished Service Award in 1984;
- Honorary Degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, from OCU in 1986;
- the 1991 Recipient of the Governor’s Arts Awards for the State of Oklahoma;
- the 1992 OCU Norick Hulsey Gallery Society Award;
- the 1992 Byliner Award, by Oklahoma City Professional Chapter of Women in Communications, Inc., 1992;
- the 1993 Distinguished Friend of the OCU Alumni Association;
- the Oklahoma City Arts Council 1994 Mayor’s Award;
- the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, 1997;
- the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence Distinguished Trustee Award, 1997;
- the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics Faculty Award, 2000;
- the Oklahoma University College of Medicine, Deans Award for Distinguished Community Service, 2002;
- the Oklahoma Health Center Foundation, Living Treasure Award, 2002;
- the Oklahoma Commerce and Industry Hall of Honor, Lifetime Achievement Award, 2007;
Alspaugh is survived by her daughter, Holly; her husband, Clay Healey; her son, Dr. Louis Howard Andres Cox, and his wife, Kathryn; her son, Paul Anthony Andres Cox, and his wife, Melinda; and by her seven grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Gay Alspaugh Roane, and her nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, the Simmons Charitable Foundation of Oklahoma, P.O. Box 307, Oklahoma City, OK 73101, or the charity of your choice.
A Memorial Service will be held on Sept. 23 at 2 p.m. at All Souls Episcopal Church, 6400 N. Pennsylvania Ave.
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