The Wilson Library
Wilson School Library - The Sallie McFarland Rucks Memorial Library
Did you know the Wilson Library has an official name?
It is named in memory of Sallie McFarland Rucks, who was a Wilson
student in the 1940s. Tragically, when Sallie was a second grader, she
was hit and killed by a fire truck on her way home from school. Later,
the Wilson Library was named the Sallie McFarland Rucks Memorial
Library in memory of her.
Every year, Sallie’s parents, Dr. and Mrs. W.W. Rucks,
who lived on Nineteenth Street, donated many animal-themed books to the
library. Sallie's mother, Louise, was a columnist for thirty-six years
at the Oklahoman, where she wrote Hound Hill, an award-winning column
about animals. Sallie’s father was one of the original doctors at
Oklahoma City Clinic, which his father founded shortly after World War
I. They both founded Wesley Hospital, later known as Presbyterian,
which is now a part of University Hospital. Sallie’s older brother,
Bill, and older sister, Peggy, also attended Wilson. They live in
Lafayette, Louisiana, and Enid, Oklahoma, respectively.
Through the years, the information regarding the name
of the library had been lost. At the time of the school’s eighty-fifth
anniversary, we learned about the history of the library's name from
Sallie’s niece, Louisa McCune-Elmore. Louisa is a Mesta Park resident
and the editor in chief of Oklahoma Today, the official state magazine
of Oklahoma. Louisa and her husband, Chad Elmore, have provided
temporary placards for the library doors, and they have resurrected the
tradition of giving an annual gift to the library in Sallie’s name.
Once the new library is completed with MAPS for Kids, Louisa's family
will donate permanent signage.
In addition, Louisa is coordinating the Sallie
McFarland Rucks Reader Series. This community-oriented series brings in
a different individual each month of the school year to read a
children’s book to the second-grade students. The Reader Series began
last April 20, the anniversary of Sallie’s birthday. We were honored to
have former mayor Kirk Humphreys as the first reader. Other
readers include Oklahoma Children's Theater executive director Lyn
Adams, former Miss America Jane Jayroe, KATT radio personality Brad
Copeland, Oklahoma Today senior editor Steffie Corcoran, Santa Claus,
and Kirk Snyder and David West of the New Orleans/Oklahoma City
Hornets.
We extend many thanks to Louisa and her family for helping us recognize this important part of Wilson’s history!