“Humble Hellraiser” Edna Wilcox’s legacy honored by USAO
On Saturday, June 29, the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma commemorated the life and contributions of esteemed alumna Edna Wilcox with a special ceremony attended by university officials, family and friends. She passed away in March 2024.
A Japanese Cherry tree was planted in Wilcox's memory, reflecting her passion for wildlife and dedication to teaching. The event, organized by Marissa Moore, associate director of alumni relations and university development, and Heather Franks ’99, niece of Wilcox, took place at the Stevens Alumni House on campus. Attendees gathered to honor Wilcox's legacy, which spanned over a century of service and dedication to education.
“This was a home for Edna that shaped her life,” said President Kayla Hale. “She found so many ways to give back, whether it be in service to her students or her service to the country. Her roots are here, and it seems appropriate that we plant this tree in her honor, intertwining her even more firmly into the history of this institution. We stand on the shoulders of these remarkable women who came before us. Now we have a special reason to return often: to visit this tree we plant in her honor, and to one day rest in its shade.”
Wilcox grew up on a farm in Jackson County, where she worked alongside her father in the fields with the livestock, developing a unique skill set with tools. After graduating from high school in Prairie Hill, Texas, she enlisted in the U.S. Navy WAVES program in World War II. She became an airplane mechanic, working on B-52s. Following her military service, she became one of the first women in Oklahoma to utilize her G.I. Bill to further her education. She earned her bachelor’s degree in 1949 from the Oklahoma College for Women and became a science teacher.
“She blazed a trail,” said Franks. “She didn’t just break every rule but obliterated it. She did it in a very polite ‘I’m not making waves’ way. She always did what she set out to do. She achieved every goal she set for herself, which in that time with the economic circumstances she faced in her life is remarkable. I would not be who I am today if it were not for her influence.”
Wilcox received her master’s degree in speech and language pathology from the University of Pittsburgh, then joined the faculty of the Oklahoma College of Liberal Arts (now USAO) in 1972 as chairman of the Speech and Hearing Department.
Much of what educators and experts know about caring for children with disabilities can be traced to Wilcox. She authored speech improvement handbooks for primary classroom teachers, produced 45 speech improvement lessons broadcast by radio, and wrote a teacher's handbook for elementary special education classes. Wilcox was also co-author of “Listening with Mr. Bunny big ears,” a program in language development and speech improvement for elementary school children.
She helped organize the USAO Workshop in Learning Disabilities and conducted the highly successful summer camp for children who have learning disabilities. She retired from USAO in 1984 after being inducted into the USAO Alumni Association Hall of Fame in 1975.
“I remember her retirement party. They gave her a beautiful grandmother clock, that hung in pride of place in her home for many years until it was passed to me and now it hangs in pride of place in my home,” said Franks. “There’s that legacy again—of USAO, OCLA and OCW—it’s very strong in our family. She really believed in this school, the mission and interdisciplinary education. She helped many students discover this place and earn scholarships. She always had time for her students.”
Wayne Crull, Wilcox’s nephew, recalled how Wilcox’s home was always filled with students who would come over to talk, grab some food and get help with their schoolwork. Crull recollected how she would find out what he was reading, and read it so she could have conversations with him, a practice he now has carried on with his children.
“I think Edna was the most humble hellraiser in my life,” said Crull. “She was the epitome of a visionary. The legacy I have of helping abused and neglected children in special education in the state of Missouri, came from my aunt. The conversation I remember most, was when she told me ‘Wayne, keep dreaming until you’re at least 35, then spend the rest of your life fulfilling your dreams.’ And when I think about it, that’s exactly what she did.”
About the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma
As Oklahoma’s liberal arts college, the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma provides a distinctive education in the liberal arts and sciences, supporting both its interdisciplinary core curriculum and major fields of study with superior teaching. USAO fosters diversity of thought and practice to help students realize meaningful, purposeful and productive lives as global citizens in a rapidly-changing world.