Ann Patton’s 62-year dream of a college degree

Ann Patton never gave up on her dream to graduate from college.

Now, 62 years after she completed high school, her perseverance is about to pay off. Patton will receive a degree from Oklahoma State University-Tulsa on Monday night at a graduation ceremony in The Pavilion at Expo Square.

“I wanted to finish to show my grandchildren you should never give up on your dreams,” said Patton, who is just a few weeks away from her 80th birthday.

Patton spent years becoming a well-known journalist, author and activist in Tulsa.

But she didn’t really have the option of attending college when she graduated from high school in 1955. The choices of going the University of Tulsa or traveling out of town for school were simply too expensive.

“The next thing you know we have four children and Bob (her husband) and I both were working two or three jobs,” Patton said. “So it wasn’t possible.”

But she never gave up on her dream to graduate from college.

Originally published by the Tulsa World.  Click here to read the full article.