Western Oklahoma State College

Dr. Tom Linares

While attending Altus Junior College, Dr. Tom Linares was active in student senate and voted Mr. AJC. One of the only places at the college that Linares' feet did not cross was the graduation stage. Linares became ill throughout the night and was undergoing emergency appendectomy surgery during his commencement. Although he did not walk across the stage in Altus, his journey continued by earning his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in communication disorders from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, OK and his Doctorate from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. He is currently the chairman of the Communication Disorders program at Minot State University in Minot, ND. His program is rated one of the best and recognized nationally for the highly qualified students enrolled. Linares says his years at AJC were influential to the leadership skills he possesses today. He distinctly remembers Mrs. Peterson, his english teacher, hounding him to run for student senate. He says this kept him from being the quiet student in the back row. Linares took that mentality with him throughout his career. He organized two trips to Central America, where he, along with doctors, nurses and students, took medical supplies and provided medical services to over 1,000 people. Linares and his wife Jackie have three children, Gordon, Justine and Garrett. He and Jackie enjoy ballroom dancing and have performed in many well-known productions, such as The Nutcracker, Cinderella and West Side Story.