Annie Glenn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Annie Glenn
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Glenn in 1965
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| Born |
Anna Margaret Castor
February 17, 1920 Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
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| Died | May 19, 2020 (aged 100) Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
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| Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Virginia |
| Alma mater | Muskingum University |
| Occupation | Disabilities advocate, philanthropist |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 2 |
Annie Glenn was an amazing American woman. She was born as Anna Margaret Castor on February 17, 1920, and lived until May 19, 2020. She was married to the famous astronaut and senator, John Glenn.
Annie was a strong supporter of people with disabilities. She also worked to help people who stutter, like she did herself. She helped many people understand and overcome speech challenges.
Contents
Early Life and School
Annie Margaret Castor was born in Columbus, Ohio, on February 17, 1920. Her parents were Homer and Margaret Castor. Her dad was a dentist. In 1923, her family moved to New Concord, Ohio.
Annie met John Glenn when they were very young. Their parents were friends and involved in the same community groups. Annie and John grew up close and became high school sweethearts. They kept dating through college.
Annie went to Muskingum College. She studied music and also learned secretarial skills and physical education. She was very active in sports. She played on the swim, volleyball, and tennis teams. Annie graduated from college in 1942. She even got a scholarship to study music at the Juilliard School. But she decided to stay in Ohio with John.
Annie and John got married on April 6, 1943. They had two children: David, born in 1945, and Lyn, born in 1947. In the early years of her marriage, Annie worked as an organist in churches. She also taught trombone lessons.
Later Life and Impact
Her Role During the Space Race
In the middle of the 1900s, there was a lot of tension between the United States and the Soviet Union. This was called the Cold War. To make Americans feel more confident, President Dwight Eisenhower started Project Mercury. This project was part of the Space Race. Seven young men were chosen to be astronauts for this mission. They were seen as American heroes. Their wives, including Annie Glenn, also became famous.
These wives were called the "Astronaut Wives Club." They supported each other through the challenges of their husbands being astronauts. A book called The Astronaut Wives Club was written about them. It said that these women helped shape what it meant to be American. People saw them as examples of family, patriotism, and buying American goods.
Many American women looked up to Annie Glenn. They saw her as a role model for having a happy home. The media showed the Astronaut Wives in a way that encouraged people to buy certain products. For example, they wore "responsible pink" lipstick for a magazine photoshoot. But the pictures were changed to show them wearing "patriotic red" lipstick. After the magazine came out, red lipstick became very popular. The astronauts drove cool sports cars, but their wives were encouraged to drive family-friendly station wagons. This made many average American families buy station wagons too. Annie and the other Astronaut Wives inspired women across the U.S. to be brave. They also influenced what people bought for their homes.
Overcoming a Speech Challenge
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Annie Glenn had a speech stutter throughout her life, just like her father. When she was a child, her stutter didn't bother her much. She enjoyed activities like softball, Girl Scouts, dances, and choir. She only realized it was a problem in sixth grade. It was found that she stuttered in 85% of her spoken words. Even with this challenge, she made and kept close friends.
After college, Annie wanted to get a job in a new town. Her parents worried about her living alone because of her stutter. But Annie found ways to communicate without speaking. For example, she would write down what she wanted before shopping. Then she would show the note to the sales clerk.
When she was 53, Annie found a special three-week course. It was at the Hollins Communications Research Institute in Roanoke, Virginia. This course helped her greatly with her stutter. After the course, her speech was much better. She didn't feel "cured," but she could speak with more confidence. When her husband ran for the Senate, she could give speeches. She spoke at public events and rallies to support him. Annie used her new voice to help people with disabilities. She knew they were often overlooked.
Later, Annie Glenn became a teacher at Ohio State University. She taught in the Speech Pathology Department.
Awards and Honors
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In 1983, Annie Glenn received the first national award from the American Speech and Hearing Association. This was for her great service to people with communication problems. In 1987, the National Association for Hearing and Speech Action created the "Annie Glenn Award." This award honors people who achieve great things despite a communication disorder. Annie presented the first award to actor James Earl Jones.
In 2004, she was added to the National Stuttering Association Hall of Fame. In 2015, Ohio State University renamed a street on its campus. It became Annie and John Glenn Avenue.
In 2009, Ohio State University gave her an honorary degree. It was a Doctorate of Public Service. This recognized her work for children and others. The university also gives an "Annie Glenn Leadership Award" each year. It goes to someone who shows new and inspiring work in speech/language pathology.
Activities and Groups
Annie Glenn was involved in many important groups:
- Delta Gamma Theta Sorority (Muskingum College)
- The Ohio Board of Child Abuse
- The Board of Columbus (Ohio) Speech and Hearing Center
- The Society of Sponsors
- The Board of Trustees of Muskingum College
- The Advisory Panel of the Central Ohio Speech and Hearing Association
- The Advisory Board for the National Center for Survivors of Childhood Abuse
- The Board for the National First Ladies' Library
- The National Deafness and other Communication Disorders Advisory Council of the National Institutes of Health
Personal Life and Passing
Annie and John Glenn were married for 73 years and eight months. John Glenn passed away in December 2016. They had two children, John David and Carolyn Ann, and two grandchildren.
Annie Glenn turned 100 years old in February 2020. Three months later, on May 19, 2020, she passed away. She died at a nursing home in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Her death was due to complications from COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Minnesota.
Legacy
See also
In Spanish: Annie Glenn para niños
