Veteran gets High School diploma 50 years after attending Fort Gibson
Muskogee PhoenixApr 20, 2024
Apr. 20—FORT GIBSON —
Watkins, who lives in
In a ceremony before a school presentation of
"Watkins now is an official member of the graduating class of 1973," School Superintendent
The audience featured 1973 FGHS classmates, along with current high school students.
"I think I'm shocked," Watkins said after the honors. "I was going to come up today and, to my understanding, meet the principal in his office, receive the diploma and shake his hand. My class was here and this (play) was here. It's like a three-ring circus. I'm just stunned."
Watkins recalled how close he was to his 1973 classmates.
"I went to
He said he left school in 1972 because he was having some personal problems.
"I went and got my GED, joined the military and stayed in the Army for 21 years," he said.
Over 21 years, he served as a quality insurance inspector, working up to the rank of E-7
Watkins recalled going to a FGHS class reunion a few years ago and was told he didn't belong because he did not graduate with the class. He said a classmate got with the superintendent to arrange for a diploma.
That classmate,
"And he goes, 'Pat, we can get him his diploma,'" Orman said. "So Mr. Farmer went to work on his side, and I went to work on my side and we surprised him with classmates coming in."
At the ceremony, Farmer said the "Vivia" musical was an appropriate time to honor Watkins. The musical focuses on local lore about
"As you watch 'Vivia' today, you're going to see a lot of history displayed and you are going to see a testimony to why the fort was built, which is a display of unity and peace, and a show of stability and strength," Farmer said. "In this country's history, people have had to answer the call to keep peace and show strength around the world and here locally. Sometimes that's done with the sacrifice of life. Sometimes it's done with the sacrifice of continuing your education."
Farmer said
He said Watkins "answered the call to represent our country on the world stage."
The superintendent said the 1973 class panel, which hangs with other panels in the school, happened to have a vacant space. Farmer said the panel is being redone to add Watkins' photo.
Watkins said his diploma and copy of the class panel will hang in his living room.
"I'll catch my breath tomorrow, maybe," he said. "They went above and beyond."
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