The Ron Cross Senior Activity Center had a ribbon cutting and a dedication of the dining hall and activity center on Oct. 9. The Durant Area Chamber of Commerce was present to host the ribbon cutting ceremony, as were many prominent Durant and Bryan County citizens.
Afterwards, the participants retreated to the new dining hall where Advisory Board Member Mark Swearengin presented a program about the history leading up to the Ron Cross Center. The idea was formed 17 years ago by the board members of the King’s Daughters and Sons Nursing Home after its sale to a for-profit corporation.
What was not imagined by that board is that the mission to accomplish this would take more than 15 years, a process that stretched through three city councils, mayors, and city managers. Gay Cunningham was the spark plug who raised much of the funding, with the Cross family stepping up in the end and providing the balance of the required funding to make the center a reality.
Tammy Cross and her son Gregg were in attendance and were recognized for their significant contributions by the enthusiastic audience. The current senior activity center advisory board members were also introduced, Gay Cunningham, Pam Buntz, Margaret Sandlin, Theresa Hrncir, Judy Polson and Mark Swearengin.
Durant City Manager Pam Polk was introduced and commended the board for staying the course for all of those years. “Many would have given up after encountering so many obstacles over this lengthy a period of time, but you didn’t,” Polk said. “Now, Durant has a first-class facility because of your efforts, something the entire community can take pride in.”
Executive Director Dana Trent then presented a video of activities that had occurred in the center over the last year, which included dances, parties, exercise and nutrition programs, painting and art classes, and informational seminars for seniors. She got a chuckle from the audience when she mentioned that immediately following a safe driving presentation by the Durant Police Department, there was an accident in their parking lot.
Several months ago, Trent made the advisory board aware of the fact that they had outgrown the dining room facility, and were having to seat some diners in other rooms in order to accommodate them. The question was raised about the possibility of converting the fellowship hall into the dining area. Trent replied that to do tha, the carpet would have to be torn up and replaced with vinyl flooring, and that there was no money in the budget.
The board members offered to find corporate sponsors for the new flooring, and within two weeks, had the funds secured. Swearengin recognized the sponsors during his presentation, which were the Massey Foundation, Stuteville Chevrolet, First Texoma National Bank, People First Industries, and the Durant Lions Club. A plaque was presented for display at the dining hall with their names.
The seniors who attend the center felt a name should be selected for the hall, and names were submitted and voted on. They selected “The Gathering Place” in honor of Gay Cunningham.
A surprise was that the advisory board had decided to rechristen the original dining room as “The Activity Center” in honor of the original King’s Daughter’s board members who had started this project all those years ago. A plaque was erected at the entrance with the names of each of the members, Gay Cunningham, Mike Ridgway, Harold Haddock, Sandy Stroud and Mark Swearengin.
Tours were then given through the facility, which also houses the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) headed up by Sheila Risner, who was also instrumental in helping with the new facility. RSVP handles Meals on Wheels and a monthly food box program. It also houses the Oklahoma Healthy Aging Initiative which provides physical and educational programs for seniors, and the Southern Oklahoma Nutrition Program.
I summed up the history presentation by telling the audience that when we started working on it, I was a mere 45 years old. By the time we finished I was eligible to be a member.
