Alva Review-Courier -

The Roy Vayle and Leah Beisel Evans Literacy Center Endowed Chair was established to enhance the quality of the offerings in the Literacy Center of the Division of Education, providing additional funds for training and education and to increase educational opportunities available to Northwestern faculty and students as well as the public of northwest Oklahoma.

Roy Vayle and Leah Beisel Evans grew up in northwest Oklahoma and attended school in one-room schoolhouses. Roy attended ninth through 11th grade at Horace Mann High School on Northwestern Oklahoma State University's campus until he dropped out during the Great Depression. Leah finished high school in Fargo and graduated from college in Weatherford.

Roy and Leah were married in 1955. As full-time farmers and ranchers, they built an agricultural operation growing wheat and raising cows and calves. Roy and Leah raised their two children, Ida and John, on their family farm west of Alva. They involved their children in the farm work, instilling a strong work ethic at a young age.

Roy served on the township board for many years. Leah taught in a one-room schoolhouse and was a seamstress.

Roy and Leah always supported education. They encouraged their children to pursue higher education. As a testimony to the work ethic they learned and the support from their parents, Roy and Leah’s children acquired a combined seven degrees from Northwestern Oklahoma State University.

“It is obvious that Ida’s entire family appreciates and values higher education,” said Skeeter Bird, CEO, Northwestern Foundation & Alumni Association. “This endowment is a great investment in young students to better themselves through improved literacy skills. These skills will set them on a path to much higher academic and employment success. This investment clearly touches our entire community in a positive way.”

For more information on The Roy Vayle and Leah Beisel Evans Literacy Center Endowed Chair, or about investing in Northwestern students, call Bird, Northwestern Foundation & Alumni Association CEO, at 580-327-8599 or email him at [email protected].