The Owasso Library held a special event Tuesday morning, Nov. 20, honoring one of Owasso’s own.
Staff invited Representative Eric Proctor to visit the center, where he spoke to local patrons and was recognized for his efforts at the state Capitol.
Proctor was presented with the Bill Lowry Champion Award for his participation in the budget negotiations in the last legislative session that allowed the Oklahoma Department of Libraries to receive additional funding for the first time in 10 years.
This came as part of House Bill 1010, which saw a restoration of revenue for educational initiatives and organizations like the Tulsa City County Library to go toward training and programming, including those at the Owasso branch.
“That can contribute to … mom’s being able to read to their kids and training, 360,000 plus books being checked out in Tulsa County last year,” Proctor said. “My daughters go to the Central Library downtown, so it’s a special deal for me.”
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Jennifer McQuade, Owasso Library manager, said Proctor’s efforts have helped support the purchase of various children’s materials, used in story times and early literacy programming like Build a Reader workshops.
“For the first time in 10 years, our funding has increased, and we wanted to honor (Proctor) and show everybody what a difference that funding is making in our library,” McQuade said.
Proctor, an Owasso native, taught at Owasso High School for two years from 2004 to 2006 as an economics, history and government teacher before being sworn in at the Oklahoma Legislature.
Tuesday, Nov. 20, marked Proctor’s last day in office after serving on the floor for 12 years. He said he chose the Owasso Library to mark the memorable occasion, as the downtown area serves as a special place for him.
“I grew up in this neighborhood here in Owasso just about four blocks away on Carlsbad Street; my great grandparents moved three blocks away from here in 1949,” he said. “So when I have a chance to pick a place, this is where I want to be for my last day in office.”