Jack E. Avant
(1930 - )
Jack was born in Sperry, Oklahoma on February 18, 1930. He graduated from Sperry High School in 1948. He was president of his senior class, consisting of 17 students.
Following high school, he attended Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa and Northern Oklahoma Junior College in Tonkawa, Oklahoma. After several years of military service, he continued his college education at the University of Tulsa.
Jack was mobilized into the active Army on September 1, 1950 with the 45th Infantry Division. In March of 1952, he graduated as a 2nd Lieutenant from the Armored School at Fort Knox, Kentucky. After a tour of duty at Fort Hood, Texas, he was sent to San Marcos Air Force Base, Texas for Army Flight School and later to Fort Sill, Oklahoma for Army Flight Tactics School and graduated from there in June of 1953. After six and one-half years of active duty, he requested release from the Army, returned to Oklahoma and rejoined the 45th Division as an Army pilot. He was qualified in both fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft. He retired from the military with the rank of Captain.
Jack married Sara Jane Doerr in June of 1953 and was later sent to Germany for three years. Sara Jane joined him there and a son, Sam, was born at U.S. Army Hospital in Heidelberg, Germany on February 1, 1956. On November 9, 1958, their daughter Susan Jane was born at St. John Hospital in Tulsa. Both children are graduates of Sperry High School. Susan lives in Oklahoma City and Sam resides in Skiatook.
Jack spent many years with National Gypsum Company before starting his own building company. He developed several housing additions in Skiatook and built homes in Owasso and Skiatook. In addition, he served for ten years on the Board of Education for Sperry Public Schools.
Jack and Sara Jane now make their home in Skiatook, Oklahoma.
Sara Jane Avant
(1933 - )
Sara Jane (Doerr) Avant
Sara Jane was born in Hominy, Oklahoma on May 23, 1933 and moved to Sperry in 1938. She was filled with eagerness and excitement throughout her school years at Sperry and graduated in 1952. She considers the desire to learn and excel a gift from God and participated in all classes and extra-curricular activities.
Basketball was her favorite sport and she lettered four years. Junior and Senior plays, pep club and cheering for the football team were exciting activities. She was editor of the Pirate Gazette, sales manager for the yearbook and Salutatorian of her graduating class.
In September of 1952, she enrolled at St. John Hospital School of Nursing. After completing two years of nursing school, she took a leave of absence to join Jack in Germany. After returning to Sperry in December of 1957, she re-entered nursing school and graduated with the Class of 1958. In August of 1959, Sara passed the state board exam for registered nurses. In 1970, she enrolled at the University of Tulsa and accrued several college hours toward a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. As time with Jack, Sam and Susan was most important, she chose to work only part time and did so until retiring in 1985.
Education was a financial hardship for both Jack and Sara as well as their parents. Both feel fortunate to have been able to send their children through Oklahoma State University. They feel equally as fortunate to be able to assist other deserving and motivated students in furthering their education.
Sara cherishes the education and memories of her time spent at Sperry Schools and is proud to be an alumnus.
