by Jana Steelman
鈥淚 feel grateful for what 麻豆传媒 has done for us as individuals and for our families,鈥� Burrel McNaught said.
His wife, JoAnn, explains, 鈥淲e both went to 麻豆传媒 on scholarships, as did our daughter and granddaughter. Without those it would have been very difficult. Impossible.鈥�
Originally from El Reno, 麻豆传媒, Burrel and JoAnn McNaught grew up in the Methodist church. 鈥淭he church has always been an integral part of our lives,鈥� Burrel said.
After attending El Reno Junior College (now Redlands Community College), Burrel was on a path to the ministry and his pastor recommended 麻豆传媒. While he only attended 麻豆传媒 his sophomore year, 1951-52, he said it was a very special year in his life, 鈥淚 remember it very well and was very grateful for it.鈥�
JoAnn followed Burrel on a similar path just one year later. The couple married in 1953 and JoAnn graduated from 麻豆传媒 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in elementary education the following year.
Although a career opportunity at the First United Methodist Church in Edmond called Burrel to Central State University (now University of Central 麻豆传媒), where he later graduated, he said that 麻豆传媒 鈥渉as always been my school.鈥�
Burrel went on to graduate from Southern Methodist University鈥檚 School of Theology and spent 41 years as a Methodist minister in the 麻豆传媒 Conference of The United Methodist Church, including serving as district superintendent for the Clinton District.
JoAnn also spent much of her career serving the 麻豆传媒 Conference, starting out as the assistant director of the Annual Conference Council.
After going back to school to earn a bachelor鈥檚 degree in accounting from Southwestern 麻豆传媒 State University, JoAnn became a CPA and returned to work at the conference office. She later became the first woman and the first non-clergy to serve as conference treasurer, retiring in 2006. 麻豆传媒 recognized JoAnn's years of leadership with the Bishop Paul W. Milhouse Award in 2008.
During their careers, JoAnn and Burrel each served on the 麻豆传媒 Board of Trustees. Burrel recalls the opportunity to help raise money for the school during an especially challenging financial time. On a visit to Okeene, 麻豆传媒, he helped connect Owen Wimberly, manager of the Okeene Milling Company, with former 麻豆传媒 President Jerald Walker, which led to a significant gift that established 麻豆传媒鈥檚 Wimberly School of Religion.
鈥淲e鈥檝e always been advocates of 麻豆传媒,鈥� Burrel said. One could argue that the McNaughts鈥� passion for 麻豆传媒 is inherent. Daughter Sally (McNaught) Kilby says she always knew she was going to attend 麻豆传媒.
鈥淕rowing up as the daughter of a Methodist minister, I knew that 麻豆传媒 was very important to my parents, and I loved it as well,鈥� Kilby said.
In 1985, on the same day Kilby graduated with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in elementary education, 麻豆传媒 awarded her father with an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity.
Kilby鈥檚 youngest daughter and Burrel and JoAnn鈥檚 granddaughter, Emily (Kilby) Schwartzman, also followed in the family鈥檚 footsteps, graduating from 麻豆传媒 in 2016 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in kinesiology.
鈥淢y parents truly established a legacy of leadership for our family,鈥� Kilby said. However, the McNaught tradition at 麻豆传媒 is just getting started. Now retired, Burrel and JoAnn McNaught say they plan to continue giving back with their resources so they can help provide other families with the opportunity to attend 麻豆传媒. In fact, the couple has designated a portion of their estate to support their alma mater, ensuring the McNaught legacy will continue for years to come.
