By Kirsten Kirtley, Senior Reporter
In the fall of 1968, a girl was working in the reference section at her university’s library when an unexpected disruption took place.
Several students ran into the library singing and dancing. Unbeknown to the girl, the students were coming to celebrate because the university had just named the girl Ranger Queen.
Her name is Mary Elaine Williams Nichols.
Nichols is originally from Oklahoma City and was the first African American woman to be named homecoming queen at Northwestern Oklahoma State University.
A few months before Nichols began her freshman year at Northwestern, her junior high school principal, Floyd Alexander, drove her and a few of her classmates to Alva to tour the campus.
“I’m a painter, and I thought Alva was a beautiful town,” Nichols said. “I liked the town square and everything about it.”
Once Nichols began school at Northwestern, she quickly became involved on campus. She became president of the sorority on campus,
Zeta Phi Delta. Nichols said she thought one of the sorority members should run for homecoming queen because it would be a good way to drum up participation.
After suggesting the idea to her sorority sisters, none of them were willing to run, but one of them suggested Nichols should run.
Once she decided to vie for the title, her mother shipped a formal dress on a Greyhound bus from Oklahoma City to Alva so Nichols would have something to wear for the homecoming events.
Nichols said that winning the title never crossed her mind. It was just important to her for the sorority to participate in the festivities.
“The day they voted, I thought, ‘I better get up to the student union to cast my vote so that at least I would have one vote if I voted for myself,’” Nichols said.
Nichols was informed that the polls had closed for the day, but she was able to vote the following day when the polls re-opened.
After receiving the news that she had received the most votes out of all 17 candidates, meaning she would be crowned queen, her mother shipped two more formal dresses to Alva for the crowning and other events.
While attending college, Nichols became a member of the local Methodist church, where she sang in the choir and played the piano. She also sang in the choir at Northwestern. Nichols earned a degree in elementary education with a minor in art and graduated with honors.
Nichols’ fondest memory of Northwestern is the people she met.
“I was happy to be in Alva,” Nichols said. “My experience from the very start was positive, and the people I met were absolutely wonderful.”
Nichols graduated from Northwestern and later received her master of education degree from the University of Maryland.
She taught for several years in Oklahoma City, the state of Maryland and the city of Tulsa. She now works as a holistic health coach.
Nichols’ talents have also flowed over into the art world. Her handiwork has been exhibited in several galleries and on the covers of her hand-painted greeting cards. Some of the articles she has written include: “Poor People’s Guide for Rich Language,” “Face in the Christmas Tree,” “A Crayon Workbook” and more.
Nichols has contributed to the education and art communities outside of the classroom as well. She was appointed to the Oklahoma State Board of Education by former Gov. Frank Keating.
She also served as gallery assistant for the Smith-Mason Art Gallery and Museum in Washington, D.C. In addition, Nichols has served as an artist-in-residence for Oklahoma City Public Schools.
Two additional accomplishments include receiving the Northwestern Alumni Humanitarian Award in 2000 and the National Eagle Forum award.
Dr. Janet Cunningham, former president of Northwestern, chose Nichols to give the commencement address in 2017 and talked with Nichols during that time. Cunningham said Nichols is gracious, has a positive attitude and is a lovely person to be around.
Carol Janssens, who became friends with Nichols when they were attending Northwestern, has kept in touch with Nichols throughout the years. She said she thinks Nichols’ kindness to others and involvement at Northwestern played a part in her winning homecoming queen.
Janssens said Nichols always calls her on her birthday, never says a bad thing about anyone and is always willing to pray for others.
“She is one of the kindest, nicest people I’ve ever met,” Janssens said. “Mary has always been a very friendly person. It didn’t matter who it was.”