Two Roland High School graduates, Bill Day and Earl Roberts, were recently inducted into the Connors State College Hall of Fame.
Bill Day began his college career at Connors State College in the fall of 1964. He continued his education at Northeastern State University completing a degree in Speech and Drama and later obtained a Master’s degree in Administration.
He began his teaching career at Sallisaw High School in 1969 and also began creative and successful winning programs at Stigler, McCurtain and Muldrow. He completed his 50-year education career at Carl Albert State College in Poteau, where he developed another award-winning program.
Day served as president of the Oklahoma Association of Communities and was a member for the Board of Oklahoma Association of College Speech and Debate teachers for 12 years. He served eight years on the Roland City Council and was Chairman of the Roland Alumni Association for 15 years. He was voted Teacher of the Year by his college students while teaching at CASC.
He met and married his wife of nearly 52 years, Judy Simpson Day, during his time at Sallisaw.
The two share not only a love for education, but two beautiful and successful daughters, sons-in-law and five fantastic grandchildren.
Earl Roberts
Earl Hilton Roberts attended Connors State College 1958-60. During his time as a student he wore several hats. Roberts started working for the campus custodial staff and was later transferred to the farm and eventually the bookstore. After graduation he returned to the bookstore to help the manager with the selling of books for the opening of the fall semester.
Roberts played an important role in the music department as a student. Under the direction of music teacher, Mrs. Pantell, he was part of the group, LYCEUM, and also sang in a quartet. The focus of both groups was to travel to schools in Eastern Oklahoma to sing and recruit students. He has produced two CD’s of religious music. He still sings at church and special events.
He is active in the Roland High Alumni Association and is on the scholarship committee helping to raise money for senior students graduating from Roland High School.
Roberts opened the Hilton Agency in in 1976 where he was successful in selling real estate and insurance. He remained there until he retired with his son, Jeff, taking over the business.
He and his late wife, Mary, who he met at Connors, have three sons, Jeff, Johnny and Jerry. Jeff majored in business and later attended OSU. Johnny and Jerrod transferred to OU and are both pharmacists.
