Charles Richard Strong

1932 - 2021  (89 years)

• Name	Charles Richard Strong  [1]
  Birth	24 Aug 1932	Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma   [1]
  Gender	Male
  Death	21 Oct 2021	McAllen, Hidalgo County, Texas
  Burial	Camargo (Westside) Cemetery, Camargo, Dewey County, Oklahoma
  Notes	Charles was born in the midst of the Depression, and vividly remembers the financial struggle faced by his impoverished parents. In the summers, Charles was usually sent to stay on the farm owned by his great-grandparents, James and Zada Gentry. Charles remembers Zada as a tiny woman, and a good cook. She often remarked, after he devoured her meals, "Charles, you must be hollow to your toes." Charles eventually rebelled against his father's stringent demands. In a bid for independence, he dropped out of school for in the eighth grade, staying out late most nights or not coming home for days at a time. His parents sent him to Oklahoma City, to live with his Aunts Fay and Lois, who shared a home. His grandmother, Bessie Payne, lived there with her daughters as well. Charles slept in a cot in the back room. He remembers his grandmother having a Chocolate Hostess Cupcake waiting for him each day when he returned from school. Charles graduated from the 8th grade at Holy Angels Parochical School in Oklahoma City on May 25, 1947. After his graduation, he enrolled in the Oklahoma National Guard. He added two years to his age so he would be eligible to enlist. He was 5'8" and 138 pounds, and told the unit he was age 17, not 15. After seven months of duty, on June 4, 1948, he was honorably discharged as a Private. The reason for his discharge was listed as "Business Interference" Charles returned home to Duncan to attend High School. He later dropped out of High School as well, and went to work at a bakery. He developed a lifelong aversion to most baked goods, remembering the overwhelming smell. Charles finally realized that education, was the best way to escape poverty, so he returned to school. He graduated from Duncan High School in May, 1952, along with his younger brother Bill. Charles and Bill both enrolled at Oklahoma A&M (now OSU) in Stillwater. Charles borrowed money from his Aunt Lois to pay for his freshman year, and then was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict. He received a medical discharge due to a chronic skin condition which made it impossible for him to wear combat boots. After his brief military service, he returned to OSU and used the GI bill to pay for the remainder of his education. He was original a Chemistry major, but changed to business and accounting due to these same skin allergies. A Feb. 7, 1956 article in the student paper reported that "Charles Strong, arts and sciences junior from Duncan, was named president of the Newman club Sunday evening during the election of the 1956 officers. Strong, a chemistry major, replaces Stan Prochaska, agriculture journalism senior from Enid, as proxy of the organization of Catholic students. He had been vice president and one time co-chairman of the membership committee. Ed Wakeen, OIT student from Massachusetts was elected vice president...(also from Massachusetts) Joe Hayden was elected treasurer...Beverly Kirchmeyer from Ponca City was elected secretary. Continuing as chaplin.....will be Rev. Joseph Dillon, assistant pastor of the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Stillwater." Being president allowed Charles to live in the Newman club, further helping him with financing his education. It was also through the Newman club that Charles met his wife, Pat, a fellow student at OSU. Charles received his B.S. degree in May, 1959 with a major in accounting and minor in economics. His first job was as an instructor of accounting and economics at Bloomsburg State College in Pennsylvania. He was there for one year, after which time he went to work as an auditor for a public accounting firm in Tulsa. After two years in public accounting, he worked as an auditor for two years at Halliburton in Duncan, Oklahoma. He received his CPA certificate (#1659) from the State of Oklahoma in 1963. Charles went back to OSU, and received his M.S in accounting in May, 1964. Later, he went on to obtain his Ph.D. from the University of Alabama (May, 1972, Major in Industrial Relations with minors in Economics and Finance). It was at the married student housing at the University of Alabama that the Strong's started their lifelong friendship with JF and Earlene Burney. While working on his Ph.D., the Strong's moved between small college's in Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas at which Charles had short term teaching assistantships. He was an instructor at OSU, the University of Alabama, Mississippi State College for Women, University of Texas at El Paso, and the University of Montevallo (in Alabama). Charles looked a bit like Henry Kissinger (Secretary of State under Richard Nixon). Once, while on a business trip, he was in a bar in Washington D.C. He heard a whispered conversation between two people, who were hotly debating whether or not he was indeed Dr. Kissinger. When the waitress came up to ask if he wanted a refill, he drolly answered, in his Kissingerian best, "Yah." In May, 1973, Charles was offered a position in the Accounting Department of Pan American University in Edinburg, Texas. He also received his Texas CPA Certificate (No. 12,595) in January, 1974. While in the Rio Grande Valley, Charles became an avid bird watcher and member of the National Audobon Society. He participated in many bird censuses. He also enjoyed sailing. Dr. Strong later became a full professor at Pan American. He taught mainly accounting classes, although towards the end of his career he began to teach in the management department. He retired in December, 1997. During his tenure at Pan Am, he served on numerous committees, was a N.A.S.A. Faculty Intern at the Johnson Space Center during the summer of 1974, and served as a visiting professor at Incarnate Word College in San Antonio. He also did the accounting, taxes, and financial planning for a corporate client in Edinburg. Charles retired from Pan American in December 1997. Charles is a voracious reader, and is especially interested in nature and history. In the late 1990's he and his brother Bill made several trips to Europe to visit their cousin Pete Kubik and to visit various battle sites of World War II. He also became interested in Genealogy, and began travelling throughout the southwest, visiting courthouses in search of land records and also interviewing family members. He is an enrolled member of the Chickasaw nation, as was his maternal grandfather, Thomas Payne. He is also a Mason. (Medical):Had Covid-19 in December 2020.
  Person ID	I10	Strong Family Tree
  Last Modified	22 Oct 2021

  
  

  Father	Homer Richard Strong,   b. 29 Feb 1908, Junction City, Comanche County, Oklahoma d. 19 Sep 1990, Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma (Age 82 years)
  Mother	Anna Laura Payne,   b. 23 Oct 1913, Arthur, Parks Township, Stephens County, Oklahoma d. 15 Sep 2004, Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma (Age 90 years)
  Marriage	23 Feb 1932	Waurika, Jefferson County, Oklahoma
  	Marriage Record No. 10 Waurika, Jefferson County, Oklahoma Between H.R. Strong, age 23 of Duncan, Oklahoma and Anna Laura Payne age 18 of Duncan, Oklahoma. Married by J.H. Harper, County Judge in the presence of Geo. Taber of Waurika, Oklahoma and H.B. Longest of Waurika, Oklahoma
  Documents		Payne, Anna Laura marriage to Homer Strong Marriage license issued in Jefferson County, Oklahoma
  Family ID	F9	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Patricia Marion McGuire,   b. 30 Oct 1933, Camargo, Dewey County, Oklahoma d. 16 Mar 2018, Edinburg, Hidalgo County, Texas (Age 84 years)
  Marriage	25 May 1957	Stillwater, Payne County, Oklahoma   [1]
  Children	1. Living   2. Living   3. Living   4. Living   5. Living   6. Living   7. Living
  Photos » Slide Show		McGuire, Patricia ca 1957 marriage to Charles Richard Strong, Stillwater, Oklahoma 8 of 10 Pat and Charles preparing to cut their wedding cake
  		Strong, Charles and Pat Children: 1972, Trip to Woodward, Oklahoma Keith McGuire took this photo of his nieces and nephews in April 1972, when both families were in Woodward, Oklahoma, visiting Josephine McGuire Carpenter l to r: Tom with Paul, Laura, John David with Karl, and Mary Pat holding Anne Marie
  		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
  		Strong, Laura Ann ca 1990 wedding to Kenneth Richard Solomon Standing, l to r: Annie, Melinda, Tom, Laura, Ken, Mary Pat, Karl, Dee Dee Seated, l to r: John, Buly, Michael, Pat, Charles Joseph, Charles Richard, Tommy, Lisa and Paul
  		Strong, Paul Stephen ca 1994 wedding to Sherry Mullen Top row, l to r, Ken, Mary Pat, Karl holding his son Charles, Buly, John, Charles Richard, Tom Bottom Row, l to r, Charles Joseph, Laura, DeeDee with her newborn son David, Sherry and Paul with Elizabeth, Pat, Melinda with Michael, Tommy and Annie
  		Strong, Charles Richard ca 1997 with wife Pat Charles Strong and Pat McGuire, Fortieth Wedding Anniversary Celebration, at the home of John and Isabel Strong, San Antonio, Texas
  		Strong, Charles and Pat Children: 1998, Christmas at the Solomon Home in Austin, Texas Standing, l to r, Ken Solomon, Sherry & Paul Strong, Annie Strong, Tommy Strong, Melinda Strong, Charles Joseph Strong, Tom Strong, Mary Pat Strong, Isabel Strong holding her son Jacobo, Karl and DeeDee Strong Seated, middle row, l to r, Laura Solomon, Pat Strong holding Christian Strong, Charles Richard Strong, John Strong Seated, bottom row, l to r, David Strong, Charley Strong, Joseph Strong, Katelyn Strong, Billy Strong, Elizabeth Strong and Michael Strong
  Documents » Slide Show		Strong, Charles and Pat Family Home (1970's) Montevallo, Alabama This is the home the Strong family lived in while Charles taught at the University of Montevallo in Alabama in the 1970's
  		Tuscaloosa, Alabama Historical Marker Historical Marker standing at the site of the Northington U. S. Army General Hospital chapel, 1943-1947. The Hospital itself was later converted to married student/family housing for the University of Alabama, which is where the Strong family lived while Charles Strong was completing his Ph.D. at the University.
  		University of Alabama, Entrance marker to the former U. S. Army Northington General Hospital Historical Marker standing at the site of the Northington U. S. Army General Hospital chapel, 1943-1947. The Hospital itself was later converted to married student/family housing for the University of Alabama, which is where the Strong family lived while Charles Strong was completing his Ph.D. at the University. The marker itself appears to have been moved from its original site.
  		Strong, Pat and Charles Family Home (1975-1995), Edinburg, Texas This was the Strong families home in Edinburg, Texas from approximately 1975 through 1995
  Albums		Charles and Pat Strong, Children & Grandchildren (145) Photos of the children and grandchildren of Charles Strong and Pat McGuire, through the years
  Family ID	F2	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	3 Aug 2014

  
  

• Event Map		Birth - 24 Aug 1932 - Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma Marriage - 25 May 1957 - Stillwater, Payne County, Oklahoma Death - 21 Oct 2021 - McAllen, Hidalgo County, Texas Burial - - Camargo (Westside) Cemetery, Camargo, Dewey County, Oklahoma  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Photos » Slide Show		Strong, Charles Richard ca 1932 Charles was the first of seven children born to Homer Strong and Anna Laura Payne
  		Strong, Walter Winfield ca 1936, with his first four grandchildren Charles Strong (l), Donald Weaver, and Bill Strong (r), with Walter Winfield Strong, who is holding his newest grandson, John Ralph Strong.
  		Strong, Charles Richard ca 1938 Rhythm Band, Lee School, Duncan, Oklahoma 1938-1939
  		Strong, Charles Richard ca 1938, Lee School, Duncan Oklahoma, First Grade Class Picture Charles believes this was probably his first grade class picture, which would have been Mrs. Wright's class, Lee School, Duncan, Oklahoma. He was seated on the bottom row, the first student on the left PLEASE HELP US IDENTIFY THE UNKNOWN STUDENTS.
  		Strong, Homer ca 1939 with sons Bill, John, and Charles Homer poses with his three oldest children around 1939 in Duncan, Oklahoma. The boys, from left to right, are Bill, John and Charles.
  		Strong, John Ralph, Charles Richard, and William Robert, ca 1940 The three oldest sons of Homer Strong around 1940. John is on the left, Charles in the center, and Bill on the right
  		Strong, Charles Richard ca 1947 Graduation from Holy Angels Catholic School in Oklahoma City This picture of Charles, with Rev. Father John Garvey and several classmates, was taken on 25 May 1947--the day of their graduation from Holy Angels Catholic School in Oklahoma City. Charles is standing on the far right. IDENTIFICATION OF THE UNKNOWN STUDENTS WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
  		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
  		Strong, Charles Richard ca 1952 This hand tinted photo was taken when Charles graduated from Duncan High School, in May 1952
  		Strong, Charles Richard ca 1952 This was probably taken while Charles was a student at Oklahoma A & M in Stillwater, Oklahoma
  		Strong, Charles Richard ca 1953, R.O.T.C. Photo This picture was taken of Charles his freshman year at Oklahoma A&M (now OSU), in front of the Hanner Hall Dorm, across the street from the National Guard Armory. He was in the ROTC.
  		Strong, Charles Richard ca 1954, U.S. Army Charles was drafted during the Korean conflict. He briefly served in the U.S. Army, but received a medical discharge due to a chronic skin condition, making it impossible for him to wear combat boots.
  		Strong, Charles Richard ca 1954 This photo of Charles (right) and an unknown fellow soldier was taken after a Military Parade at Camp Chaffee in Arkansas
  		Strong, Charles Richard ca 1955 This photo was probably taken in Stillwater, Oklahoma where Charles was a Business Student at Oklahoma State University, or possibly at the time of his graduation
  		Strong, Charles Richard ca 1956 A photo taken of Charles in front of the Newman Club for Catholic Students at Oklahoma A&M University. Charles had recently been elected president of the Club.
  		Strong, Charles Richard ca 1956 with his fiancee, Pat McGuire Charles and Pat on a visit to his parents home in Duncan, Oklahoma
  		Strong, Charles Richard ca 1957 at a Neumann Club dance Charles and Pat at the Neumann Club Valentine's Day Dance, a few months before their marriage. While at Oklahoma State University, Charles was President of the Neumann Club for Catholic Students. It was at one of these dances that he and Pat first met.
  		McGuire, Patricia ca 1957 marriage to Charles Richard Strong, Stillwater, Oklahoma 2 of 10 Charles with his best man, Richard Foster, and Father Joseph Dillon. Father Dillon and Charles were close friends, and he officiated not only at the marriage of Charles and Pat but also at the baptism of their oldest son.
  		McGuire, Patricia ca 1957 marriage to Charles Richard Strong, Stillwater, Oklahoma 5 of 10 The bride and groom with their parents, l to r, Keith McGuire, Jr, Kenneth Carpenter, Josephine Morlas McGuire Carpenter, the newly wed Pat and Charles Strong, Anna Laura Payne Strong, and Homer Strong
  		McGuire, Patricia ca 1957 marriage to Charles Richard Strong, Stillwater, Oklahoma 6 of 10 Pat and Charles with her mother and a few of her Aunts from New Orleans l to r: Eleanor Morlas Rohli, Josephine Morlas McGuire Carpenter, Charles Strong, Pat McGuire Strong, Jenny Morlas Bishop and Vivian Morlas Schoenfeld PLEASE HELP US VERIFY THAT PAT'S AUNTS ARE ALL CORRECTLY IDENTIFIED
  		McGuire, Patricia ca 1957 marriage to Charles Richard Strong, Stillwater, Oklahoma 7 of 10 Bill Lambert, Richard Foster, flower girl Mary Elizabeth Lambert (Bill's sister), Charles Strong and his bride, Patricia McGuire, Carolyn Strong, John Ralph Strong
  		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
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  		Strong, Homer ca 1962 with family and friends On sofa, seated, L to R: Cecil Lewis, Bob Strong, Donald Joe Weaver, Homer Strong, Leroy Weaver, and Jack Strong. Standing behind Jack are Tommy Lewis (left) and Barney Strong. Seated on the floor is Charles Strong, and seated on a footstool to his right is his brother Bill. This picture was taken in the home of Homer and Anna Laura Strong in Duncan.
  		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
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  		Strong Reunion, Fourth of July, 1984, Duncan, Oklahoma Charles Strong with Amos Kubik
  		Strong Reunion, Fourth of July, 1984, Duncan, Oklahoma Barney Strong with his nephew, Charles
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  		Strong, Charles Richard ca 1990's Taken at a pub in England, when he and Bill where visiting their cousin Pete Kubik
  		Strong, Anna Laura with her children ca 1994 This photo was taken at a picnic in Johnson City, Texas around 1993 or 1994. Roonie had been widowed for several years, and Theresa was undergoing treatment for the cancer that would soon take her life. Back Row: Bill, Caroline, Theresa, John. Front Row: Anna Laura "Ronnie", Charles
  		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
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  Documents » Slide Show		Strong, Charles Richard ca 1944, Duncan Elementary School Diploma Certificate of Promotion and Admission into Junior High School
  		Strong, Charles Richard ca 1947, Eighth Grade Diploma Certificate of Eighth Grade completion from Holy Angels School in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
  		Strong, Charles Richard ca 1948, Honorable Discharge from the Oklahoma National Guard Charles enlisted in the Oklahoma National Guard at age 15, claiming his date of birth was two years earlier than in actually was. He served seven months before he was honorably discharged, after his true age was discovered.
  		Strong, Charles Richard ca 1948, Honorable Discharge from the Oklahoma National Guard, Enlistment Record Charles enlisted in the Oklahoma National Guard at age 15, claiming his date of birth was two years earlier than in actually was. He served seven months before he was honorably discharged, after his true age was discovered.
  		Strong, Charles Richard ca 1952, High School Diploma Diploma from the Duncan, Oklahoma Board of Education dated May 29, 1952
  		Strong, Charles Richard ca 1953, Selective Service Induction Notice Induction Notice, 1953
  		Strong, Charles Richard ca 1954, Honorable Discharge Honorable Discharge from the United States Army
  		Strong, Charles Richard ca 1956 A Feb. 7, 1956 article in the student paper reported that "Charles Strong, arts and sciences junior from Duncan, was named president of the Newman club Sunday evening during the election of the 1956 officers. Strong, a chemistry major, replaces Stan Prochaska, agriculture journalism senior from Enid, as proxy of the organization of Catholic students. He had been vice president and one time co-chairman of the membership committee. Ed Wakeen, OIT student from Massachusetts was elected vice president...(also from Massachusetts) Joe Hayden was elected treasurer...Beverly Kirchmeyer from Ponca City was elected secretary. Continuing as chaplin.....will be Rev. Joseph Dillon, assistant pastor of the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church of Stillwater."
  		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
  		Strong, Charles and Pat, First Car The couples first car after their 1957 marriage, a 1949 dark green Plymouth
  		Strong, Charles Richard ca 1959, Diploma from Oklahoma State University Charles received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater in May, 1959
  		Strong, Charles Richard, Faculty Photo, 1960 Faculty Photo from the Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania State Teachers College
  		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
  		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
  		Strong, Charles Richard ca 1963, Beta Alpha Psi Charles was a member of this organization while working on his Masters in Accounting
  		Strong, Charles Richard ca 1972, Doctoral Dissertation copyright Copyright for his Dissertation. Charles was awarded a Ph.D. in Management from the University of Alabama. Dr. Strong's dissertation was titled "A Study of Attitudes Toward The Selection of Women Faculty in Collegiate Schools of Business in the Southeastern U.S.A."
  		Strong, Charles Richard ca 1972, University of Alabama Commencement Commencement Program, May 14, 1972
  		Strong, Charles Richard ca 1972, Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Alabama Charles received his Doctor of Philosophy degree from The University of Alabama in May 1972
  		Strong, Charles Richard ca 2006, Mason Certificate Mason Certificate
  		Roosevelt, Franklin Delano (B. 1882 Hyde Park, NY D. 1945 Warm Springs, Georgia) The 32nd President of the United States, Democratic Party, 1933-1945, he was greatly admired by Charles Strong, and a distant cousin to boot. This portrait of FDR was purchased by Charles Strong at an Estate Sale, and was proudly hung in the kitchen of his and Pat's homes in Edinburg, Texas, both on 8th and on 15th streets.
  		Strong, Thomas Anthony ca 2002, Certificate-yDNA, R1B1 yDNA sample 12 marker results. Tom was one of the early participants in the Strong yDNA study, shortly afterwords several proven descendants of Elder John Strong of New England were exact matches to him, allowing him to focus his search for his American Strong ancestors http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~donegalstrongs/dnaresults.htm

  
  

  Albums

  CC Connell Domino Photos (8) CC took this series of photos of his domino partners in the late 1980's while testing out a new camera. Among his good friends and domino partners were Charles Strong and Claude Lookingbill.

  
  

• Sources

  [S411] Strong, Charles Richard and Pat (McGuire)--Family Members (Interviews and correspondence).