Only Woman Major in Air Force Reserves Named 'Nurse of the Year
Miss Proctor, formerly of Atoka, received the prestigious 'Nurse of the Year' award from the State Nurses Association. The award ceremony was scheduled for October.
The article details Miss Proctor's background, noting that she is the daughter of Mrs. Ruth Proctor and the late John L. Proctor of Atoka. Born in 1923 in Soper, Oklahoma, she moved to Atoka with her parents and completed her elementary and secondary education in the Atoka school system, graduating in 1941.
Her nursing journey began with training at Wesley Hospital School of Nursing in Oklahoma City in 1943. Following her graduation, she served at the Soil Conservation Service in McAlester. In December 1943, she entered the Cadet Nurse Corps and received further training at Wesley Hospital and San Diego, California. She was honorably discharged from the Navy Nurse Corps in February 1946, after which she returned to Wesley Hospital, Oklahoma City. In 1951, Miss Proctor took a leave of absence and enrolled at Western Reserve University.
In the summer of 1956, she joined the 137th Fighter-Interceptor Wing of the Air National Guard, stationed at Camp Gruber. Notably, at that time, she was the only woman officer in the 137th Tactical Hospital Squadron. She was not only the sole woman in this capacity but also the only woman nurse, indicating her exceptional position. Her abilities as a nurse were described as being of rapid advancement. At the time of the article, she held the rank of Major in the Air Force Reserve. Further showcasing her dedication to nursing and education, the article mentions that in the fall of 1956, Miss Proctor entered the University of Chicago, where she received a Master of Science degree in 1957. She then returned to Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee as an instructor. Her commitment led to her serving as chairman of the Department of Nursing at OBU for two years, beginning in 1959. She also served two years as president of the Oklahoma Nurses Association.
At the time of the article, Miss Proctor held the position of Surgical Instructor for the Presbyterian and Wesley Hospital Schools of Nursing in Oklahoma City. She was recognized as having been a faithful member of the St. Luke's Methodist Church in Oklahoma City, where she also taught a class of high school age girls.
Excerpt taken from the Ada News/ Atoka County Times October 1970
Miss Procto
