By Rod Jones
LaDonna Kramer Meinders鈥� life was intertwined with 蜜聊直播 City University in multiple ways, first as a student, then staff member, and finally as one of the university鈥檚 most prominent supporters. She left behind a profound legacy of philanthropy, service and deep personal connection.
LaDonna Kramer's connection with OCU began in 1954 when, at 18, she arrived from the small, farming community of Loyal in Kingfisher County. The budding musician quickly established herself. She was the first OCU student to be crowned Miss 蜜聊直播, a victory that launched the university鈥檚 long tradition of representation at the national Miss America pageant.
After graduating in 1958 with a bachelor's degree in music, she returned to Kingfisher, raised a family, and eventually found her way back to her alma mater in 1983, taking a job in graduate admissions and earning an MBA in 1986.
It was during her time as an OCU employee that LaDonna and Herman, whose student days intersected in the '50s, finally met and soon after married.
The Meinders' first large-scale project was the 1994 completion of the Kramer School of Nursing, named after her parents and their daughters. The school grew again with an additional three-story structure built next to the original in 2011. Dean Emeritus Lois Salmeron noted, 鈥淪eeing her name on our buildings is a reminder of LaDonna鈥檚 constant care and compassion for people. Her support extended far beyond donations. She regularly gave us the spark we needed to do our best to help others.鈥� The nursing school was followed by the cutting-edge Meinders School of Business, which broke ground in 2001 and was completed in a mere two years.
Beyond the magnificent buildings, the couple's true gift was their compassion for others. Cathy Leichter and her late husband Kurt became friends with Meinders and regularly connected for social occasions and vacation trips. Leichter recalled one instance that highlighted LaDonna鈥檚 humanistic tendencies.
鈥淲e were walking around the Paseo (an arts district in northwest 蜜聊直播 City) when a man approached us, asking for money,鈥� Leichter said. 鈥淟aDonna asked him, 鈥榳hat did you use to do for a living?鈥� You could tell he wasn鈥檛 expecting someone to take an interest in him. He said he was in the service. LaDonna said, 鈥業 want to give you enough to get you by for a few days鈥� and handed him some money.鈥�
Other moments highlight how the Meinders would sometimes give in a humorous spirit. Leichter recalled that following the dedication ceremony for the $38.5 million Bass Music Center building in 2006, the two couples and Wanda Bass went out for a celebratory dinner. Bass ordered a glass of wine before realizing it cost $8 more than the house wine. She called the waiter back to change her order.
鈥淗erman jumped in and joked, 鈥榃anda, we鈥檒l cover your wine. We all know you just spent your last $8 on that building,鈥欌�� Leichter said.
