Valree Fletcher Wynn facts for kids

Valree Fletcher Wynn (May 9, 1922 – September 25, 2021) was a trailblazing educator. She made history as the first African-American professor at Cameron University. This was from 1966 until her retirement in 1985. Later, she became the first African-American to serve on the Board of Regents of Oklahoma Colleges. She even led the board as president from 1988–1989. Valree Wynn received many awards. She was honored in both the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame.

Early Life and Challenges

Valree Wynn was born in Rockwall, Texas in May 1922. She grew up in Sentinel, Oklahoma. This town did not have a school for black children. Her parents tried to send her to a nearby town to live with a couple. This way, Valree could get an education. But they brought her home and asked for a school to be built.

After a year, the new school burned down. So, Valree's parents taught classes in their own home. When she finished eighth grade, Valree was sent to Lawton, Oklahoma. She attended Douglass High School there. This was 80 miles from her parents' home. She traveled back and forth on weekends.

Valree's College Journey

After finishing high school in 1939, Wynn moved to Pueblo, Colorado. She lived with her aunt and uncle to attend a junior college. Here, Valree felt truly equal for the first time. Her classmates and teachers treated her with respect for her ideas.

In 1941, Wynn started at Langston University in Langston, Oklahoma. She studied English. There, she met her future husband. Later, Wynn went to Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma. She earned her graduate degree in 1951. She was the first full-time student in a new English doctorate program. Valree returned to finish her doctorate when she was 46. She completed it in 1976.

Teaching Career

After graduating, Wynn worked briefly at the Pentagon. But she preferred teaching in Oklahoma's smaller towns. She started teaching fourth grade at Douglass. In 1965, Douglass closed because schools were becoming integrated. Wynn then moved to Lawton High School. She taught English there for a year.

After teaching in Lawton, Wynn was asked to interview at Cameron University. They wanted her to teach in the English department. She went back to Oklahoma State temporarily to finish her doctorate. This was needed to teach at the university level. After getting her degree, Wynn returned to Cameron. She taught there for 19 years. She was the first African-American to teach at that university.

Making a Difference at Cameron

While teaching at Cameron University, Wynn was a co-sponsor of the Ebony Society. She also helped create the Miss Black CU pageant.

Awards and Recognition

When she retired from Cameron University, George Nigh appointed Wynn to a special board. This was the Board of Regents of Oklahoma Colleges in 1986. She was the first African-American to be appointed to this board. She even served as its president from 1988–1989. She was on the Board of Regents for seven years.

Other honors she received include:

• President's Council of Regional Universities for meritorious service (1993)
• Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame (1996)
• Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame (2005)
• Lawton Chamber of Commerce Professor of the Year (1985)
• St. John's Baptist Church Woman of the Year (1992)
• Delta Sigma Theta Outstanding Educator (1985)
• Outstanding Citizen (1987)
• Alpha Kappa Alpha Golden Soror (1992)
• OSU Graduate Excellence Award (1970–73)
• NAFEO Distinguished Alumnus Award (1990)
• Cameron University Distinguished Service Award
• The Valree F. Wynn Scholarship was created at Cameron University in her honor.

Community Service

Valree Wynn was also involved in many groups:

• Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority
• Phi Kappa Phi honor society
• Board of Directors for the Lawton Public Schools Foundation
• US Senator David Boren's Foundation for Excellence
• State Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Commission

Personal Life

Valree Wynn was married to Phail Wynn Sr. (1920–1973). They had two sons, Phail Wynn Jr. and Michael Wynn. Valree Wynn passed away on September 25, 2021. She was 99 years old.