December 6, 2025 Issue, Page 12 of 12

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12• SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2025 The Elk City News Billey Retiring From SWOSU-Sayre A classified ad led to a 30-year career in higher education. Southwestern Oklahoma State University-Sayre Registrar Terry Billey is retiring after working three decades at Beckham Coun- ty’s college campus. She graduated from Merritt High School in 1984 as Terry Hutchison and enrolled in Sayre Junior College. Terry Billey She married Carl Billey, and in May 1986, she graduated from When SWOSU-Sayre Regis- SJC with an associate degree in trar Kim Seymour retired, Billey general studies. stepped into that role in January “I always tease my daughter, 2012. Aly, that she graduated with me She’s worked under four uni- since I was pregnant and due at versity presidents and eight cam- any time,” Billey said. pus deans in her three decades While Carl finished a mortu- employed by SWOSU. ary science degree, she held a va- A lot has changed in higher ed- riety of jobs. ucation in those 30 years, largely These included working for because of technology. her parents at Hutchison Uphol- For a commuter campus like stery in Elk City and for Olan SWOSU-Sayre, Zoom classes and Mills Portrait Studio and Gerber online classes have reduced the Preschool in Edmond. number of in-person students. Billey never intended to pur- “Now students don’t even have sue any of those professions long to leave home to attend college,” Elk City Carousel Featured on term, because she thought that she wanted to eventually be an elementary-school teacher. Billey said. Billey loves SWOSU, both as an educational institution and as an employer. Which is why she That changed, though, after National Carousel Association returning home to western Okla- homa. Then, in the summer of 1995, she saw a classified ad in the stayed for 30 years. “SWOSU has provided me with an excellent education, but most of all, I have felt a real By Sheryl Ponce “Sayre Record” for an Assistant to sense of accomplishment as I’ve the Dean at the local college cam- worked with so many students Scrolling through Facebook, the pus. Sayre Junior College merged and seen their successes,” Billey National Carousel Association’s pic- with SWOSU in 1987 and be- said. “My job has been worth- tures and tribute to Elk City’s Cen- came SWOSU-Sayre. while and made a positive impact tennial Carousel located in Ackley She applied, got the job, and on a lot of lives.” Park seemed like perfect timing went to work for SWOSU-Sayre Billey officially retires on Dec. with Christmas in the Park just campus Dean, Don Roberts. 31, though she’ll get to use some opening for the holiday season. The “Don was a great boss, very accumulated leave time after the 2001 Brass Ring Entertainment/Ed kind and easygoing,” Billey said. 17th and bid the campus a fond Roth Carousel was considered a “He made me feel like I was farewell then. new wood carousel, which is a rare working with a good friend.” For her next chapter, she’ll join feat in the world of carousels. She enjoyed the job enough to Carl at First Response Coffeehouse It was built in 2001, and it has stay, and eventually she contin- and Cafe in Sayre, which they own. three rows in all carved wood com- ued her college education. She’s looking forward to visiting positions. The carousel figures con- Billey enrolled in the Reach with regular customers there and Pictured is Blayke Coulter, daughter sist of 36 jumping horses and two Higher program for working meeting new people, including of Hope and Kade Coulter, rides chariots. Roth is only one of a few on the Elk City Centennial Carousel adults in 2008 and took SWOSU, tourists travelling Route 66. carvers left in the industry. that was carved by Ed Roth and Northwestern Oklahoma State She’s also looking forward to In an interview for GoWest restored by David and Vicki Price. University, and Cameron Univer- spending more time with Carl. Magazine in the summer of 2024, sity classes. She earned a bach- Reflecting on her 30-year Roth said that very few people have even down to the finest detail on elor’s degree in organizational SWOSU-Sayre career, she knows been carving carousels as long as his stuff. Each one is going to be leadership from SWOSU in 2011. that she’ll miss seeing co-work- he has been doing it. He began his just a little bit different. He is one “Carl liked to tease our son, Ty, ers the most. “We’ve spent a lot craft with Disney and continued of the few left doing the craft from that I was going to move into the of time together, and they’ve be- through the years. He now does the ground up with raw wood. He dorms with him since we took come like family,” Billey said. a lot of commissioned crafting of doesn’t use machinery, but he ac- classes at the same time,” Billey Three decades’ worth of con- pieces for private homes and clients. tually uses a chisel. That’s what he said. tributing to students’ successes, David Price of Sandy Creek Car- does, all day long, six days a week.” Working for SWOSU-Sayre impacting lives, and enjoying ousels, who repaired and painted During this holiday season, as full time, taking college classes relationships with family-like col- some of the Elk City figures in kids step up to ride on the carou- again, and carving out family leagues. 2024 said, “Ed Roth is one of the sel, it is a good time to appreciate time was challenging, but she’s And it all started with a classi- more modern master carvers, and the fine craftsmanship that has glad that she did it. fied ad. there is only maybe a couple of gone into each figure on the ride. them out there now. All the histor- Elk City has a rarity that will not be ic carvers have passed on. So many reproduced. It is a piece of art that of the carvings that you see now is appreciated by the carvers across Pictured is Ed Roth with Julie Andrews. He was commissioned to carve a are done on duplicators. Ed carves the country and beyond. carousel horse specifically for Andrews by Disney. All Oiled and ready to move again. Somewhere over the rainbow. Ellen Ferguson, Rossi McCull- OZ ock, Ivy Orgain, Fritzi Stanley, William Stanley, Blake Wood, Continued from page 1 Kaydean Nalley, Ainsley House, CHRISTMAS Bow Nov 26-Jan 2nd / 5:30-11:30 pm Woolaroc Wonderland of Lights: Bartlesville Nov 29-Dec 22 /5-9pm; walk, train or wagon/train; $1; and gift shop. The cast includes Lily Adkin- Scarlett Smith, Tinlee Chase, Caitlynn Osborn, Kaitlyn Baker, Continued from page 1 drive, walk or train rides: $5 for no admission and drive. Garden of Lights: Muskogee Nov son, Marlana Marshall, Bailey adults and $3 for children; live mu- Downtown OKC Lights: Decem- 26-Dec 31 / 5:30-10 pm; Mondays London House, Joy Hale Moore, Carpenter, Lexi Mosqueda, Gini sic; and food/drinks available. ber; walk. are free. Other days are $5 per car; Beth Hansen, Lilyanna Kelly, Other light shows include Chick- Smith, Sara Marie Bodenstein, Christmas in the Park: Yukon Admore Festival of Lights: Nov drive, hay ride or hot air balloon; Dashel Jones, Lucy Kachner, Ni- asha Festival of Light: Nov 21-Dec Gantt Carter, Joanna Wood, Nov 21-Dec 31/6:30-11pm; the 21-Dec 30/6-10pm, drive. gift shop; and concessions. cole Groves, Meladie Martinez, 31 / 6-11pm, Denton Wood, Jess Cenami, Sam largest display in OK; drive, walk or Kingfisher Winter Nights: Nov See Elk City first, none will com- and Aaliayah Coronado. drive, walk or carriage, an ice Holcomb, Harper Price, Lexi train: $3; and concessions. 30-Dec 24 / 6-10pm; drive, walk or pare to Ackley Park and the team of Go to rcct.org to reserve tick- rink: $12, a Ferris wheel: $5, car- Snyder, Sara Byer, Kacey Meza, Winter Wonderland Christmas train; and food trucks. city workers who put the finishing ets to one of the performances riage: $8. and food trucks. Shawna Hardin, Sophia Guy, Light Tour: Ketchum Nov 26-Dec Crystal Christmas: Woodward touches on the Christmas extrava- before they are sold out. It will be Rhema Christmas Lights: Broken Amelia Hardin, Leah Fransier, 31/5-10pm; drive or walk. Nov 21-Dec 31 / 6-10 pm; drive, ganza. a show to sit back and enjoy. Harlie Zutell, Reegan Matthews,