ANN SIMMONS ALSPAUGH

1934 - 2016

Ann Simmons Alspaugh December 13, 1934 - September 20, 2016 OKLAHOMA CITY Ann Simmons Alspaugh passed away, unexpectedly, at home, Tuesday, September 20, 2016. Her family, and many, many friends, mourn the loss of one of Oklahoma's leading ladies. Ann was the mother of three, the grandmother of seven, an executive, a community leader, a patron of the arts and an engaged philanthropist.
Ann was born in Duncan, Oklahoma, on December 13, 1934, the daughter of Marjorie Simmons Alspaugh Gray and Howard Beason Alspaugh. Her step-father, Robert Mark Gray, was an advertising executive, credited for the then famous "Put a Tiger in your Tank" advertising campaign for Exxon. Ann is also the granddaughter of Ola Mixson Simmons and Louis Bascom (L.B.) Simmons. L.B. founded the Rocket Oil Company of Duncan, Oklahoma and the Rock Island Refining Companies whose pipelines and other assets were merged into Koch Industries.
Ann attended Duncan High School in Duncan, Oklahoma. She loved all of her Duncan schools and often said she was well prepared for Smith College and later for the University of Oklahoma where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. With her first husband, Paul Anthony Andres, Ann had three beautiful children, Holly, Louis and Paul.
Education was of essential importance to Ann, as it was something she said no-one could take away. The honorary degree bestowed upon her by OCU, the long associations with The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and the Oklahoma School of Science and Math, and the degrees in law, medicine and business achieved by her children were sources of great pride. To her family, she set an example of exceptionalism, grace under pressure, an enduring image of a woman of elegance, manners and style.
Community leadership defined Ann. She had a servant's heart and used her energies and gifts to make a difference in the lives of others. Service enriched her life, gave her joy, confidence and happiness. Hence, over the course of her long life, Ann dedicated herself to the enrichment of Oklahoma and the often anonymous care of those in immediate need. In return, the state honored her with membership into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.
Beauty and art also surrounded the life of Ann. She understood the impact of the fine arts on the culture of Oklahoma. She collected, she mentored, she gave special support to Native American artists, and she focused her attention most recently on the Oklahoma Contemporary Art Center.
Ann loved each and every organization and endeavor that she championed, and her family would like to honor her with a listing of her various awards and associations.
Ann's awards include: the Oklahoma City University's Distinguished Service Award in 1984; the Outstanding Philanthropist Award, National Society of Fund Raising Executives, the Oklahoma Chapter 1985; Honorary Degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, from Oklahoma City University in 1986; the 1991 Recipient of the Governor's Arts Awards for the State of Oklahoma; the 1992 Oklahoma City University Norick Hulsey Gallery Society Award; the Second Annual "Women of the Year Award" in philanthropy from the Red Lands Council of Girl Scouts, 1992; the First Annual Grande Reverence Award at the "20th Anniversary Celebration" by Ballet Oklahoma, 1992; the Ellis Island Medal of Honor from the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations, New York, New York, 1992; the Woman Who Makes a Difference Award, by International Women's Forum, 1992, Denver, Colorado; the 1992 Byliner Award, by Oklahoma City Professional Chapter of Women in Communications, Inc., 1992; Chosen for recognition at the 27th Annual "Ladies in the News" luncheon, March 1993, by the Oklahoma Hospitality Club; the 1993 Distinguished Friend of the Oklahoma City University