Western Oklahoma State College

 Winston M. Higgs

In 1943 Winston M. Higgs, a Martha High School Graduate, attended Altus Junior College, now Western Oklahoma State College, and served as President of the student body. He entered the United States Army and served twenty-seven months with nineteen of them overseas as a combat infantry soldier in the Army of Occupation in Germany. Following World War II, he graduated from Draughon's Business College in Wichita Falls, Texas. In 1952 he started his career in finance, insurance, and sales fields in Altus. He has been active in civic, religious, and charitable organizations for many years, including the United Way, Salvation Army, Chamber of Commerce, First United Methodist Church, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Oklahoma Municipal League, and the Altus Rotary Club. Higgs has the distinction of having served twice as District Governor of Rotary International in 1989-90 and 1995-96. He helped organize and served twenty-five years as president of Jackson County Kids, Inc., a group dedicated to developing recreation programs for area youth. Higgs served Altus as a city councilman for eight years, during which time he served as chairman of the city's finance and management committee, and six years as vice-mayor.