Vicki Groom

00:00:00Regan Siler: This is Regan Siler with the Bristow Historical Society in Bristow, Oklahoma. This interview is part of the Historical Society's ongoing oral history project. The date is December 5, 2025 and I'm here with Vicki Groom at the Bristow Public Library. She's going to tell us a little bit about her life and what it's been like living and working in the Bristow area. Can you please state your full name?

00:00:24Vicki Groom: Vicki Lynn Groom.

00:00:26Regan Siler: Okay, and do I have permission to do this interview?

00:00:28Vicki Groom: You sure do.

00:00:29Regan Siler: Okay. So please tell me when and where you were born.

00:00:34Vicki Groom: I was born in Toledo, Ohio on August 27, 1951. My family, my mother was from Tulsa, Oklahoma, and was raised there. Her parents were of Greek descent, and they'd come over from Greece, and so just a rich Greek heritage there, you know. They went to the Greek church, and she spoke Greek. And actually, her parents never really, they only spoke broken English, and they never even spoke fluent English. So, she went to kindergarten, you know, she was telling me she went to kindergarten speaking few words of English, and just kind of learned English in school. But anyway, after I was born, they moved back over here, and then my parents were divorced when I was about three years old. And so really, I was raised by only my mom, my single mom. And my dad was in Ohio, and I really didn't see him much or anything, but anyway...

00:01:43Regan Siler: So is he Greek, also?

00:01:44Vicki Groom: Yes, yes.

00:01:45Regan Siler: Okay, because I thought by the last name. So, tell me what your parents full names are.

00:01:51Vicki Groom: Oh, gosh. Well, my dad's last name, well my mom's name, when they came over, his name was Esta (ph), no let's see, [indecipherable.] And so he wanted to open, he opened a billiard hall in downtown Tulsa. And everybody said people with a name like that, you're not going to get very many people, because they'll know you're a foreigner. So, he changed his name to Sam Johnson. So, I was Johnson, but anyway. Then my dad's name was Spiropolous. And so on my birth certificate, in the Greek heritage, you name your child a Greek name, and then an American name. And so, my name was Vasiliki (ph) Spiropolous. And so, it's just kind of a weird thing. Then I remember, then my mom enrolled us in school, and she enrolled us. Vasiliki (ph) means Vicki in English, and so she enrolled us in school. And I was Vicki Johnson in school, because she changed back to her maiden name. But she didn't do it legally on my birth certificate. Yes, and so I remember so well when I went to get my driver's license. She took this little guy back in the corner. And I guess she talked him into making my driver's license Johnson, even though my birth certificate still says Spiropolous.

00:03:20Regan Siler: So, do you even know how to spell that? Your Greek name? Because we'll have to have that and if we need to address that after the interview, but I have no idea how to even...

00:03:23Vicki Groom: Yeah, I can probably figure it out.

00:03:34Regan Siler: Okay, okay. So, your dad's name was William, and then your mom's name was...

00:03:39Vicki Groom: Nota.

00:03:40Regan Siler: Nota Johnson, okay. And I have her date of birth, November 20, 1923. And then I looked up her date of death as being September 4, 2006?

00:03:52Vicki Groom: Correct.

00:03:54Regan Siler: And then just while we're on your mom, you told me a little interesting tidbit about her that I thought was really neat, her relation to TJC, which is now TCC. Tell me about that.

00:04:05Vicki Groom: Well, my mom is an artist, and I was a great disappointment, because I couldn't draw a thing. But anyway, she worked at Memorial High School as an art teacher. And then when they were talking about opening TCC, which at the time, was Tulsa Junior College. They hired her, and she opened the art department. She designed all the furniture there. And she actually, at the beginning, Tulsa Junior College had a big T and a J, and she designed that envelope that they had. And so, she opened the art department there.

00:04:43Regan Siler: Wow! So was the original campus, was that the downtown campus?

00:04:47Vicki Groom: Yes.

00:04:47Regan Siler: Because that's actually where I attended.

00:04:50Vicki Groom: Yes. And it's still, it's still there.

00:04:52Regan Siler: Yeah. Well, that's so neat. And do you have any siblings?

00:04:57Vicki Groom: I have one sister.

00:04:58Regan Siler: One sister.

00:04:59Vicki Groom: Yes, she's three years older than me.

00:05:01Regan Siler: Okay.

00:05:01Vicki Groom: And she lives in Denver, Colorado.

00:05:04Regan Siler: Okay. And what's her name?

00:05:05Vicki Groom: Sharon.

00:05:06Regan Siler: Sharon, what's her full name?

00:05:09Vicki Groom: Well, Sharon, she goes back by Sharon Johnson. She was married and divorced. She was Sharon Waddell, and then she came back to Sharon Johnson.

00:05:15Regan Siler: Sharon Johnson, okay.

00:05:16Vicki Groom: Sharon Ann Johnson.

00:05:17Regan Siler: So, you were born in Ohio, and then your parents divorced when you were three, around three. And you moved back to Tulsa at that time, because that's where your mother was from?

00:05:29Regan Siler: Okay. And then, so, was it after you got married that you ended up in the Bristow area?

00:05:29Vicki Groom: Yes.

00:05:37Vicki Groom: No.

00:05:38Regan Siler: No?

00:05:39Vicki Groom: No. I graduated from Tulsa Edison in 1969. I went to Oklahoma State University, and I got my bachelor's in education. And I applied, all I knew was Tulsa, big city, so I applied in Tulsa schools and all around. Well, Tulsa at the time, did not hire teachers until after, they didn't hire new teachers until after the first day of school, when they saw what their enrollment was going to be. And so, here I was. And so, we had some friends in Bristow. Their name was Phylactou (ph), and they were some Greek friends that we had. And they go, why don't you come to Bristow? Why don't you come apply at Bristow, they told my mother. And so, I said, okay, because I just wanted a job.

00:06:24Vicki Groom: even know there was a Slick school, I don't guess. I just wanted a job somewhere. And so, I came to Bristow, and there was a, that's when Dr. Carmichael was here. It was 1973 and he said there was an opening, a first and second grade opening. Would I be interested in that at Slick, Oklahoma? And I was going, what is Slick, Oklahoma? So, I go, yeah. Yeah, you know. So, we interviewed, he interviewed me.

00:06:24Regan Siler: Right.

00:06:58Vicki Groom: That was the last year it was opened. I was there the last year it was open. So anyway, you know, he was a little bit desperate. School was starting in like a week and a half, and so, he hired me. And so, I remember, I was with my uncle. He had come down from Ohio, and he was there with me, and he had brought me to Bristow for the interview. And so, I said, let's go find Slick, Oklahoma.

00:07:20Regan Siler: Oh, my goodness!

00:07:23Vicki Groom: Yeah, and so we drove, they kind of told us where to go. And we drove, and I remember so well as we drove in, there was this little building. Because I thought, well, I'll have to get an apartment there and something, you know. So, we drove in and there was this little building.

00:07:40Regan Siler: Had to get an apartment.

00:07:41Vicki Groom: Yeah, there were three sides to this little building. And I looked around and it didn't even have the other side. And then I was like oh my gosh, because you know, I was from Tulsa. I wasn't in the country at all.

00:07:54Regan Siler: Right, right.

00:07:54Vicki Groom: So anyway, we found the school, and I just cried. I thought I could do this, I could do this. And so, I got an apartment at Bristow village. They had just built it. As a matter of fact, I had to wait for my apartment to be finished, so it was the very first time they had built that. So anyway, I got my apartment. I thought, I can do this. And then the day before school started, I get a call from Tulsa. And they're offering me a job at Patrick Henry, which was a really neat school. I was going, nope, I'm here. And I've got this. I've signed the lease, and I'm just going to stay here. So, you know, it's just, it's funny how God...

00:08:01Regan Siler: Wasn't that a pivotal decision?

00:08:24Vicki Groom: Yes. Yes, there it goes. Because, you know, it could have taken me...

00:08:43Regan Siler: A whole other?

00:08:44Vicki Groom: Exactly!

00:08:45Regan Siler: Yeah, a whole other direction.

00:08:46Vicki Groom: Right, right.

00:08:47Regan Siler: Well, so as a youngster, did you enjoy school? You know, like in your early years, high school?

00:08:54Vicki Groom: I did.

00:08:55Regan Siler: So, did you go to school, all through school in Tulsa?

00:08:59Vicki Groom: All through school in Tulsa. Yes, yeah. And my graduating class was 800, 800 and something. tell my kids. I said, you know, you graduated here from Bristow and had 100 in your graduating class. You probably knew more people than I did, because I just knew my one little group of friends.

00:09:19Regan Siler: Right.

00:09:19Vicki Groom: You know, maybe 50 people, because it was so huge, so

00:09:23Regan Siler: Wow, okay! Do you feel like you had any particular influential teachers growing up, that influenced you in a positive way or made you want to get into education?

00:09:42Vicki Groom: I don't know. I do remember, I don't remember many of my high school teachers, that's weird. But, I remember some of my elementary teachers, you know. Because I went to a Catholic school for first, second, and third grade. And then we went to public school. And I remember that when I went to public school, I just felt like kind of a fish out of water, you know. But, I remember I had a teacher named Miss Money (ph). And she was so wonderful, and she just kind of took me under her wing. And I felt like I was really kind of special to her. So, that's what I say. But you know, my mother is a teacher. My aunts were all teachers. That's really all I knew growing up, was education and teachers.

00:10:24Regan Siler: So, then I guess if you think back to what you wanted to be when you grew up, was it always a teacher?

00:10:30Vicki Groom: Always a teacher.

00:10:31Regan Siler: Yeah.

00:10:31Vicki Groom: Yes, I had my dolls lined up and I would play school. I was, I was really a pretty good teacher with my dolls.

00:10:31Vicki Groom: I remember having a grade book and having all their different names down there and giving them grades. Yeah, that was it.

00:10:47Regan Siler: That's funny! Okay. Well, so growing up, I guess you grew up with a single mother for the majority of your youth. Okay, so tell me, what were meal times like for your family? Did you sit down and have dinner at night? Was your mom a great cook? Tell me a little bit about your home.

00:11:09Vicki Groom: Yeah, we always did. We always sat down together and ate dinner. And my mom was a great cook. She cooked lots of Greek food, you know. I remember when I got married, my husband goes can you make beans and cornbread? We've never had beans. I've never had beans and cornbread and stuff, like fried potatoes and things that people eat around here. We didn't do that.

00:11:34Regan Siler: Yeah.

00:11:34Vicki Groom: We didn't fry. My mom, I don't think fried anything.

00:11:37Regan Siler: Right.

00:11:38Vicki Groom: So, but there's just a lot of Greek cooking. And, you know, Greek pastries.

00:11:43Regan Siler: Do you remember anything in particular that she made that was your favorite growing up, whether it was a dessert or a special meal or whatever?

00:11:56Vicki Groom: Well, it might sound weird, but Greek soup. I make Greek soup for my family and my boys, and they love it. They love it when I will tell them I'm making Greek soup. And Greek soup is, you boil a whole chicken and you use the broth. And then you use rosa marina, or I forget what it's called. Anyway, it's like fat rice. It's orzo, is what it is. And anyway, then you take like eight eggs, and you beat the whites. Then you add the yolks, and then you add a couple lemon, and then you make this big frothy white sauce. And then you slowly add the broth to it, and then pour it back together. And it's kind of an acquired taste.

00:12:53Regan Siler: Sounds good!

00:12:54Vicki Groom: My son, Brandon, he loves Greek soup. All his friends, he would go come over, we're having Greek soup. And I said, Brandon, not everybody's gonna like Greek soup, because it's different. They're very different, definitely an acquired taste.

00:13:08Regan Siler: Oh, that's funny. So, did you take any of her recipes and carry them on.

00:13:18Vicki Groom: Yes.

00:13:18Regan Siler: Your Greek heritage, especially?

00:13:20Vicki Groom: Yes.

00:13:20Regan Siler: Okay. Well, so you moved to Bristow whenever you started teaching. And your story is a little different than I think a lot of people that are, you know, rooted here in Bristow from the beginning. So, when did you meet your husband? Or you moved here and you never left? Is that?

00:13:44Vicki Groom: Right.

00:13:44Regan Siler: Okay.

00:13:45Vicki Groom: Right. And that's funny that you say that, because I remember. So, my first year was at Slick in 1973 and 1974. And I just kind of, you know, when I came here, I thought, this is kind of a stepping stool to just kind of get my feet wet teaching. And I won't be here. I remember, at the end of the year, they always have the teachers together. And they give out these awards for five years, ten years. And they were giving those five year awards. And I was going, I'm never going to be here five years. I'm out of here.

00:14:14Regan Siler: Right, right.

00:14:15Vicki Groom: So, and then after 42 years, I retired. But anyway, yeah. I just, it kind of after the first year of Slick, that was the last year Slick was opened.

00:14:18Regan Siler: Right.

00:14:24Vicki Groom: And then they moved everybody into the Bristow school system. So, then I moved into Bristow.

00:14:34Regan Siler: Because, then they probably needed more teachers at Bristow then, didn't they?

00:14:36Vicki Groom: Right, right. Well, Slick had probably 80 kids. It was first through eighth grade, and so I think we might have had that many, maybe not even that many. But then they brought us all in, all the teachers. You know, I taught first and second grade at Slick. And then there was a third, fourth grade teacher, and there was a fifth and sixth grade teacher, and a seventh and eighth grade teacher. So, there were only four of us there at Slick. We taught two grades each; but they brought us all in and we all taught in Bristow. I taught second grade.

00:15:11Regan Siler: Is that the first grade you taught whenever you came to Bristow?

00:15:14Vicki Groom: Yes, yes. I taught second grade. Then I taught, I went from second grade to third grade. Then I went to fifth grade, which was my very favorite. And then after fifth grade, I went to transitional first grade, and then back to third grade. And then I became a principal.

00:15:37Regan Siler: And you told me, is this correct on the phone, that you taught for 21 years, and then you were principal for 21 years?

00:15:43Vicki Groom: Exactly. Yes, yes.

00:15:45Regan Siler: Okay. Well, so at what point, you were here, and then did you meet your husband here?

00:15:52Vicki Groom: Well, when I was at Slick, we had a teacher's aide, Carol Wood (ph) was her name, probably a lot of people remember her. And she knew I was single and I wasn't dating anybody, and she goes, I've got a guy I want you to meet. And so I said, okay. So, she told me she gave him my number, and he called, and we would kind of talk on the phone, and I thought, well, he sounds okay, you know. So, we had, we were going to go on a double date with Carol Wood (ph) and her husband. And so we had that planned for, I don't know, it was a week or so away. So, at the time, oh and at the time, I had a foster child too.

00:16:36Regan Siler: Oh, my goodness!

00:16:37Vicki Groom: Yes, I had heard about needing foster parents. I thought, here I am alone. And I had bought a house then my second year of teaching, so I had a house there on west ninth street. And so, I had Jeannie (ph) was my foster child, and she was a little first grade girl. And so, one evening, there's a knock on the door, and there's this guy there with a mask on made out of a brown paper bag. And I go, hello, and it was right after Halloween. And so, she was standing by me, jumping up and down, and I was going, what is this about? And he's going, I'm Kelly Groom, and then he took off the mask. And so, it was the guy, he wanted to check me out before we went on our date. Anyway, and I still have that mask in my bridal book.

00:17:26Regan Siler: Oh, my goodness!

00:17:34Vicki Groom: But anyway, you know, he came in. And so, then we were married several years after. We had three kids together. And we divorced in, I can't even remember when, oh it'd have been probably about 2014, something like that.

00:17:57Regan Siler: So, tell me his full name.

00:17:59Vicki Groom: Kelly Don Groom

00:18:02Regan Siler: And I have his birth date as 5/25/1953, and his date of passing was January, 20, 2018?

00:18:11Vicki Groom: Yes.

00:18:11Regan Siler: Okay, and so you were married for about how many years?

00:18:16Vicki Groom: Gosh!

00:18:18Regan Siler: And that's okay, if you don't remember.

00:18:20Vicki Groom: Yeah, no, it was like 28 years.

00:18:22Regan Siler: 28 years. Okay, so did you have a very long courtship, dating time, or did you just decide you wanted to get married?

00:18:30Vicki Groom: Well, no, we didn't really have a very long courtship. We had, it was probably like eight months.

00:18:34Regan Siler: Oh, wow!

00:18:34Vicki Groom: And then we were married in August, August 10.

00:18:37Regan Siler: August 10, okay. And then you said you have three children.

00:18:41Vicki Groom: Right.

00:18:42Regan Siler: Can you tell me their full names?

00:18:44Vicki Groom: Brandon Don Groom

00:18:47Regan Siler: And I have his date of birth as 6/2/1980?

00:18:51Vicki Groom: Correct.

00:18:52Regan Siler: And then your next one?

00:18:53Vicki Groom: And then Nicholas Ryan Groom.

00:18:55Regan Siler: I have him January 22, 1984?

00:18:58Vicki Groom: Correct.

00:18:58Regan Siler: Okay.

00:18:59Vicki Groom: And then Lindsey Nicole, well, she's Mayberry right now.

00:19:03Regan Siler: Okay.

00:19:03Vicki Groom: Lindsey Mayberry, she's 8/5/1985 she's got the easy birthday.

00:19:09Regan Siler: Right. So, can you tell me, do you remember having any particular challenges as a working mom, you know, raising kids? Can you think back to the challenges you faced, or if you had any?

00:19:27Vicki Groom: Well, Kelly was in accounting and in oil and gas, and that was a time when oil and gas, they were laying people off, and they were downsizing. And so, it was like he tried hard, but he would change jobs frequently, and so that would freak me out, because we were living on a teacher's salary. And of course, you want your kids to have everything they want. You know, they had to have the Dr. Martens shoes, you know, the no fear shirts, and all those that were really important at that time. So, we bought a house that I still live in, and so they were all raised in that house. And I feel like when we had hard times or money problems, they really never knew it.

00:20:17Regan Siler: Right. Well, that's good. And then, how many grandchildren do you have?

00:20:26Vicki Groom: Well, I have, Lindsey has three. They're just like the light of my life. That's what I live for, and that's what I do all the time. Pick them up from school, take them here, take them there. And then Relena (ph) has three. And she, you know, that's who Nicholas married. So, I kind of inherited them. They had Jacoby (ph) and Savannah (ph), and then later on, she adopted Ethan. So I consider them my grandchildren too. And then Brandon has one, Sunshine (ph) Groom, and she just turned 23, and I helped raise her too. She lived with me through her school years.

00:21:03Regan Siler: So, seven total?

00:21:06Vicki Groom: Six, seven, yes.

00:21:07Vicki Groom: Seven total.

00:21:09Regan Siler: Look, we can add, we can do math. Okay. Well, let's back up a little bit. So, whenever you were living here, moved here in the 1970s, so say even during that time. And you know, maybe before you met Kelly. Do you remember much about Bristow or maybe some of the biggest businesses or places you frequented during that time?

00:21:40Vicki Groom: Well, there was a Safeway store there on the corner, and I remember that. And then there was Ben Franklin, and I got to know Beth Dalpoas (Elizabeth Dalpoas), and Bill Dalpoas, at the Ben Franklin. But I'll tell you what, what I remember so vividly because, you know, I was from Tulsa, and you go to Tulsa, you go to the mall, or you go anywhere. You don't usually see anybody you know.

00:22:01Regan Siler: Right.

00:22:02Vicki Groom: So, I just remember in Bristow, I would walk and they go, hi Miss Johnson. I was Miss Johnson. And I just be going, oh gosh, you know, people know you here. I gotta watch what I do and what I say. So, it was, you know, it's such a friendly...

00:22:17Regan Siler: You got a dose of hometown friendly.

00:22:19Vicki Groom: Exactly, exactly. I just remember that so vividly, that everybody knew everybody here.

00:22:26Regan Siler: And I think that's part of the charm of Bristow. And one of the things that I like is you do have that closeness and connection with people. Where you know, when you're in a bigger city, you don't really have that at all. And I'm sure that probably was kind of a culture shock.

00:22:32Vicki Groom: Yeah. It was, it was. And even now, you know, after 42 years, there's so many kids that I came in contact with. I cannot go out to anywhere where someone doesn't say hi, Miss Groom, you know.

00:22:58Regan Siler: Right.

00:22:59Vicki Groom: I'll tell you a funny story. Last year, my daughter and I were together. We were getting out of the car at Walmart, and clear across the parking lot this tall, lanky kid had to have been like in his 30s, yells, hey, Mrs. Groom. And I go, hey, I had no idea who it was. He goes, I'm still scared of you. [indecipherable] I told Lindsey, maybe I kept him out of jail.

00:23:26Regan Siler: That's funny! Do you happen to remember having any particular, and you may not, any memories of the depot itself? Did you have anything to do with the actual depot itself during the the 1970s, 1980s?

00:23:47Vicki Groom: I think, did a train come still come through at that time?

00:23:50Regan Siler: I think so.

00:23:51Vicki Groom: Yeah, it did. And that's, that's what I remember. But then the train stopped and they redid everything. But I do remember trains coming through Bristow.

00:24:03Regan Siler: And then, so, it was probably a lot different for you. For me looking back or talking to people, Bristow was really booming. And, you know, in the early days. But for somebody like you that came from Tulsa, I don't know how that. How did that feel for you, with it being a small town?

00:24:27Vicki Groom: Like you said, it was a culture shock, for sure. But I remember all of the buildings on main street were full and had different businesses in them. Like now I see those empty buildings, it makes me sad. But yeah, Bristow was, I had to get used to going to. There was only two grocery stores. And, you know, there wasn't a Walmart or anything. There was a Ben Franklin and there was... You know, but you weren't that far from Tulsa. I would try to do most of my stuff in Bristow.

00:24:59Regan Siler: In Bristow. So, do you remember having anything to do with, back during that time, like with any of the town activities, like Western Heritage Days? Or did you participate in any of that?

00:25:11Vicki Groom: Yes, I did. I remember Western Heritage Day. I remember, I don't know if I was with a group of teachers or a group of something, but we did something about pushing mattresses down main street.

00:25:26Regan Siler: The bed races?

00:25:27Vicki Groom: The bed races. Yes, I was in that. I don't know why or how, but I remember that. [indecipherable] different things. I know my mother would come here and she's going, you're doing what. What is this, you know.

00:25:41Regan Siler: Right. That's nothing you did in Tulsa, for sure.

00:25:43Vicki Groom: Exactly, for sure.

00:25:46Regan Siler: Okay, so, you touched on a little bit that you went to college. You went to OSU for your bachelor's and NSU for your master's. Can you tell me at all about that experience?

00:26:00Vicki Groom: It was, I'd been teaching, like, 19 years, and I decided I wanted to go back and be principal, and so, I was scared to death. You know, hadn't been college in 19 years, and so, I enrolled in and at the time, it was there in Tulsa, and there were like, four colleges. They called it. I can't remember what they called it, but it was not like it is now. But anyway, I took, just started taking classes there at night, I would take like, six hours. In the summer, I would take nine hours. And at that time, you had to be a principal, you had to have a Master's, plus 15 hours. I know, and I was just going, Oh, I'm gonna stick this out, but it's never gonna happen. And then I'll never forget. I was in one of my classes. I don't even remember which one, and they came in and said, the state has passed a law, or someone has passed something, because they were short on principals. And so, they passed something that you didn't have to take the extra 15 hours. And I was going crazy.

00:27:06Regan Siler: Yeah, you were happy about that.

00:27:09Vicki Groom: And then so, after I got my principal's degree, I taught maybe one or two years later. And then they hired me to go to Washington School, which isn't there anymore.

00:27:21Regan Siler: That's actually where I went as a kid.

00:27:23Vicki Groom: Oh, really, yeah, Washington. And so, at Washington, I was the principal and the PE teacher. So, I remember, you know, at that time, you know you would wear pantyhose and everything. I remember sweating in PE, getting my pantyhose back on, changing clothes, going back in the office and being the principal.

00:27:41Regan Siler: Wow, that's an unlikely pairing, to be a principal and a PE teacher.

00:27:47Vicki Groom: Exactly. So, that happened a couple of years and then they hired a PE teacher. Thank goodness!

00:27:53Regan Siler: So, how long were you principal at Washington?

00:27:56Vicki Groom: Well, probably three years. And then I was, you know, really into the building of Collins. I got to help design the school. And the school that it is now is not the school I designed.

00:28:14Regan Siler: Right, right.

00:28:15Vicki Groom: Because of where it was in the layout of the land. We had a big, long school. But anyway, so that was 2001, when we finally moved into Collins.

00:28:15Regan Siler: And that was probably an exciting time.

00:28:26Vicki Groom: was a very exciting time!

00:28:29Regan Siler: After being in Washington, because that was a very, very old school.

00:28:32Vicki Groom: Yes. I know, I remember opening my closet and I would smell that, there was a mold smell there at Washington.

00:28:41Vicki Groom: And you know, some people would tell me, oh, I love that smell, smells so clean. It's like a clean smell. And I would open my closet and smell that smell, and I was just [indecipherable]. But when we moved into Collins, I just remember so well the kids carried their books and we moved in there in December. They finally got it through, and the kids carried their book. And we went, drove over there in school busses. And when we walked in, I remember we walked in the the back door, which was the big cafeteria area, and the kids, the things they were saying. I thought I got to write these down. And so, I started writing down some of their comments and told them at the school board meeting. But they were saying, is this our school, people must really like us. They were just so...

00:28:54Regan Siler: Yes.

00:29:05Regan Siler: Oh, that's neat!

00:29:33Vicki Groom: Because, you know, they were coming out of Washington into a brand new school.

00:29:36Regan Siler: Yes, yeah. Oh, that's cool that you wrote down what they said.

00:29:41Vicki Groom: Yes, yeah. It was neat, it was neat. So, we talked about, don't touch the walls, we don't want fingerprints. And all those kids were so excited about that new school, wanted to keep it nice.

00:29:52Regan Siler: Wanted to take care of it, yeah. So, then you were principal there for how long? Do you remember?

00:30:00Vicki Groom: So, I would have been principal there for about 19 years.

00:30:03Regan Siler: 19 years. Wow!

00:30:04Vicki Groom: Or maybe 18, yeah. And I retired in 2016.

00:30:09Regan Siler: And so, have you enjoyed being retired? Or have you missed it?

00:30:12Vicki Groom: I'm going to tell you.

00:30:13Regan Siler: It's probably bittersweet.

00:30:15Vicki Groom: It was one of the hardest decisions I've ever made. Because I talk about it, and then I go, no, I'm gonna go one more year. And then when I finally did it, but what made it okay was Lindsey was pregnant with Lilly (sp), her middle child. And so, Callen (sp), the oldest one, he was in a daycare. And then he was with a private family, and they had a little boy that would bite him. And I'd pick him up, and he'd have these bite markers on him. And I was going, oh, that's killing me. And so I thought, okay, so I could take care of my grandkids then. And so, that's what helped.

00:30:55Regan Siler: That eased your pain a little bit.

00:30:57Vicki Groom: It did.

00:30:57Regan Siler: Well, I feel like whenever that's pretty much all you've known your whole life, and very much a part of your identity. It is hard to let go of it.

00:31:07Vicki Groom: You're exactly right. And that is one thing, I felt like I lost my identity.

00:31:12Regan Siler: Right.

00:31:13Vicki Groom: Because now, who was I? I was just this babysitter of these great kids.

00:31:16Regan Siler: Right. I mean, you had a greater, a really greater purpose for a long time, and then for that to change. But I also want to talk about because, I learned some things when I talked to you on the phone. Of your heart for service, the different things that you follow. So, tell us about some of the different things you volunteer with.

00:31:40Vicki Groom: Okay, yeah.

00:31:41Regan Siler: Because I feel like that keeps you really busy, too.

00:31:43Vicki Groom: Exactly, it does. When I retired, I saw, it was actually an ad in the Bristow paper for CASA, which is a court appointed special advocate. And so, I thought, okay, that's something I could do. You know, it's strictly volunteer, no money. And so, I went there and talked to the people, and they were thrilled. And I went through a little short course. Which it was funny, because all the things they were teaching me, I had kind of taught my teachers. So, I was going, I could be teaching this, but okay.

00:32:18Regan Siler: Right.

00:32:18Vicki Groom: And so, then I got sworn in with Judge Ihrig. He was the judge at the time. And so, I've been to CASA for 10 years, and now Laura Farris is the judge for the juveniles. And so, I have different cases that I've had. Oh, goodness, I was trying to count the other day. I've probably had 10 or 12 different cases that I've been on. And, you know, it's sad. I know when I became a principal, I saw the other side of things. You know, grandparents raising kids, great-grandparents raising kids.

00:32:55Regan Siler: Right!

00:32:56Vicki Groom: And parents on drugs, in different things, where they couldn't raise their kids. And that's being a CASA. I saw a whole lot of that too. I've had several cases where it's been adoptions, and they've terminated the parents' rights. Because, they give them so long, they don't mess around with it. You know, a year and a half, and you haven't done anything, you know.

00:33:20Regan Siler: So, what exactly is your role in being a CASA volunteer?

00:33:24Vicki Groom: My role is to be an advocate for the kids.

00:33:24Regan Siler: Okay.

00:33:27Vicki Groom: So, I check on the kids. I write reports to the court about what I've seen. I visit with the parents too. But I see the kids, and most of my kids were not in school. I did have a few in school, and so I would check with their teachers. And you know, when you're sworn in, you're given a paper that you're to be given all information, any information. No information is to be withheld from you. And so, you know you're an advocate for the kids. You give court reports, and you just have a different view from DHS caseworker. You know, they're looking more at the parents and different things. And they have guidelines that they have to follow. Well, I can say pretty much anything, because what are they going to do, fire me?

00:34:14Regan Siler: Right, right.

00:34:15Vicki Groom: But anyway, so I'm an advocate for the kids. I just say what's best for the kids, what I feel like is best, how they're doing. A lot of them are going into therapy and different things. So, they're all foster, all in foster homes.

00:34:30Regan Siler: I could see it being rewarding, but I could also see it being a pretty tough situation at times.

00:34:35Vicki Groom: It is, yeah, it is. But you just feel like you're in there for the kids, and you're doing what's good for them.

00:34:43Regan Siler: Okay. So, you're on the Child Advocacy Board?

00:34:48Vicki Groom: Yes, that's another board I'm on.

00:34:50Regan Siler: Okay. And what is that about?

00:34:52Vicki Groom: That is a board, I guess their mission statement would be to make foster children feel like regular children. Like we do the extras, DHS pays for, they send them a clothing allowance and different things. But Child Advocacy Board helps them be on a basketball team and pay the fee for that, or have dancing lessons. Or, you know, we buy lots of...

00:35:22Regan Siler: Maybe equipment?

00:35:23Vicki Groom: Equipment for sports, yeah, like softball, different things. We really have never turned down anything, except one time someone put in for a snake, a pet snake.

00:35:35Regan Siler: Oh, no!

00:35:36Vicki Groom: We turned that down.

00:35:38Regan Siler: So, is that like a Bristow group or is it...?

00:35:41Vicki Groom: No, it's Creek County.

00:35:42Regan Siler: Okay. And how long, do you remember how long you've been on that board?

00:35:42Regan Siler: Creek County.

00:35:42Vicki Groom: But we have a lot of Bristow people on it. Kendra Raney, you know, our police chief, is on that. Laura Farris, the judge, is on that. And then the police chief from Kellyville, Shelly Garrett, she is on that. And then we have some people from Sapulpa also.

00:36:07Vicki Groom: Let's see, probably at least 5 or 6 years.

00:36:11Regan Siler: So, is that something, maybe you meet once a month?

00:36:14Vicki Groom: No, we don't meet that often, but we kind of go through email. Like if there's requests that come in, we vote on those. But we meet about every three months. And I'm the secretary, and so I write up the minutes and send them out to everybody.

00:36:29Regan Siler: Okay. And then I know you also said a big thing for you is volunteering at your grandkids' schools.

00:36:36Vicki Groom: Yes, I do that. I love it.

00:36:38Regan Siler: So, that feels really at home for you.

00:36:40Vicki Groom: It does, it does. I know, it does. Carson's (ph) in first grade, and so I've been there when they did an apple unit. And then, of course, his field trips. And so, his teacher is Liz [indecipherable], and she grew up with my daughter, Lindsey. And so, I've known her all her life, and so she feels comfortable to call me. So, I love going there.

00:37:06Regan Siler: That's awesome!

00:37:06Vicki Groom: And then I've gone to Lilly's (ph) school. She's at Collins, so I love to go in there and hug my secretary, Melissa (ph), you know. And so, I volunteered at her class several times.

00:37:18Regan Siler: Oh, that's neat. And then one of the big things that you're known for in Bristow is day camp.

00:37:25Vicki Groom: Oh, day camp.

00:37:26Regan Siler: So, let's talk about day camp, because I feel like that gets a whole section all to itself.

00:37:31Vicki Groom: Yes, yeah. Well, my very first summer here I found out about day camp. And I thought, well, that would be a fun thing to do in the summer, you know? So, that's when Chuck West and Wanda Newton were running day camp. And so, I went and talked to him. And of course, I think I got, I am not sure, but I think I got $5 a week when I worked at day camp.

00:37:56Regan Siler: Isn't that funny?

00:37:57Vicki Groom: Yeah, and I mean I was fine with that. I didn't think that was bad at all. And I remember it cost $14 to go to day camp then, for three weeks. No, actually it was four weeks then. Yes.

00:38:08Regan Siler: Okay.

00:38:08Vicki Groom: And so, Chuck West, he was so wonderful. You know, he'd always hug you and then ask you a favor. But anyway, he had four weeks of day camp and then two weeks of free swim after that. Where any kid could just come and have free swimming lessons. So, and you know, now I hear everybody in Bristow learned to swim at day camp, you know and it's...I have parents...

00:38:33Regan Siler: My kids did.

00:38:35Vicki Groom: Yeah. I have parents tell me, I've had private swimming lessons. They learned more at day camp than they do there. Because, you know, you have your peers there, and you want to do good for them.

00:38:45Regan Siler: Right.

00:38:45Vicki Groom: So, but anyway, so then I taught second grade girls for, I don't remember how many years. But then, you know, Chuck West and Wanda, they both were going we need to give it up. We don't want to give it up, unless someone can take it over. So, Oma Kay Murray and I, Oma Kay was a counselor there too. And she'd gone to day camp, because she was from Bristow all her life.

00:39:10Regan Siler: Right.

00:39:11Vicki Groom: And so, we talked, and she actually was the one that said we can't let day camp die. And I was going, I don't know. And so, she talked me into it, to do day camp together. And so, we did it together for many, many years.

00:39:25Regan Siler: And it's many, many years. Do you happen to remember, I know when I talked to you on the phone, you weren't sure? But it was a long time!

00:39:33Vicki Groom: Yeah. Well, I was a counselor in 1974. And then I probably took it over, maybe, it was before I was married. So, I was married in 1978.

00:39:51Vicki Groom: So, I guess I was a counselor for you know, 1973, 1974, 1975, and then 1976, for maybe 4 years. And then I took it over. So, since 19...

00:39:52Regan Siler: Oh gosh!

00:40:04Regan Siler: Late 1970s?

00:40:05Vicki Groom: Yeah, 1977.

00:40:06Regan Siler: Wow! Okay, okay.

00:40:08Vicki Groom: [indecipherable]

00:40:10Regan Siler: And so, was the only time that there wasn't day camp there was whenever the pool was closed in recent years?

00:40:17Vicki Groom: Right, right.

00:40:18Regan Siler: Which was a sad time for everyone.

00:40:20Vicki Groom: It was, it was.

00:40:21Regan Siler: Everyone missed it.

00:40:22Vicki Groom: Right.

00:40:22Regan Siler: And how long, how long was it closed?

00:40:24Vicki Groom: For four years.

00:40:25Regan Siler: Was it that long?

00:40:26Vicki Groom: It was four years. We didn't have day camps, yeah. Maybe it was three years, and then the fourth year we were able to have it. Pretty sure, I'm not positive, but I think that was. But I do want to say that right now we're kind of in a quandary. Because the mayor, not just the mayor, but they don't want us to have day camp in the armory. And that's the only place, you know. We were in the armory for 40 something years, before the city ever took it over.

00:40:55Regan Siler: Right.

00:40:58Vicki Groom: And so now, you know. And I know 300 kids in the armory, that's a lot. That's a little bit of a hiccup to their schedule.

00:41:06Regan Siler: Right.

00:41:06Vicki Groom: But we're...

00:41:08Regan Siler: Because it goes two weeks now it's it?

00:41:09Vicki Groom: No, it's three.

00:41:10Regan Siler: Is it three weeks? Okay.

00:41:11Vicki Groom: It's three weeks. So, yeah.

00:41:13Regan Siler: So, you're trying to get that figured out?

00:41:15Vicki Groom: We're trying to get that figured out. Maybe have it at the VFW, but it's...VFW isn't a good. We had it at the VFW for a couple of years, and it's just not a good choice. It's so far for the little kids to walk. And they have stuff there on Tuesday nights.

00:41:30Regan Siler: So, not sure how that's gonna end?

00:41:34Vicki Groom: Yeah, but you know I'm gonna go down kicking and screaming.

00:41:38Regan Siler: Well, that doesn't surprise me, Vicki. Well, are there any other things that...

00:41:45Vicki Groom: We have looked for every place to have day camp.

00:41:49Regan Siler: Yeah. And it just, no?

00:41:52Vicki Groom: I don't know. So we're still negotiating. I don't know. I'm hoping they'll come through. Everybody on the council, either went to day camp, had kids at day camp. So, it's a tradition.

00:42:02Regan Siler: Well, I feel it, because I actually interviewed Oma Kay also. I mean, you guys have had so much. I mean, pretty much every kid that's come through Bristow has had some contact with you guys, whether it was through school, teaching, principal day camp. I mean, that's why you can't go anywhere without anybody saying hi, Miss Groom.

00:42:26Vicki Groom: That's true. Oh yeah. During the three weeks of day camp, these little kids, you go in Walmart, they're going ohhh. I'm going, oh yeah. I don't know you, but I bet you go to day camp.

00:42:35Regan Siler: Yeah, yeah. Exactly.

00:42:37Vicki Groom: Day Camp started in 1953 with Chuck West.

00:42:40Regan Siler: Wow!

00:42:41Vicki Groom: So, it's been a tradition here at Bristow that I just can't let die. And the thing is, we're $70 for three weeks. Well, there's...

00:42:49Regan Siler: You can't do anything for that.

00:42:50Vicki Groom: There's camps here that are $70 for three days, you know.

00:42:53Regan Siler: I know, right!

00:42:54Vicki Groom: And so, and we let lots of kids in at no cost. If they can't afford it. I have parents tell me, you know, we can't afford a vacation. That's my kids vacation, to get to go to day camp. And then we have the swimming lessons too.

00:43:08Regan Siler: Which is so vital. I felt like such an important skill to have.

00:43:13Vicki Groom: Right. Yeah, right.

00:43:14Regan Siler: Well, are there any other volunteer things or things that you've done that we haven't talked about or discussed, whenever I visited with you on the phone.

00:43:26Vicki Groom: No, just church.

00:43:27Regan Siler: I was actually going to ask you about church. So, where do you attend church?

00:43:33Vicki Groom: Well, you know, I went to the First Methodist Church for 42 years. And it's went through several pastors. It's kind of, there aren't any kids there. It's kind of died down, and Lindsey's, my three grandkids were the only kids in that church. And so, because of that, we thought we need to find somewhere where they can have youth fellowship and different stuff like that. And so, we are going to Free Will Baptist Church.

00:44:07Regan Siler: Oh, Okay.

00:44:07Vicki Groom: Yeah. And so, that's different.

00:44:09Regan Siler: Yeah, yeah.

00:44:10Vicki Groom: Going from a Methodist to Baptist. But anyway, I really like it. And, you know, I tried to, I'm in their Bible studies, and I still go to the Methodist Bible study too. So, I still kind of keep a connection with those.

00:44:22Regan Siler: Right.

00:44:23Vicki Groom: Those are my people, but I volunteer there whenever I can and do whatever I can to help.

00:44:29Regan Siler: So, church has always been a really important right part of your life?

00:44:33Vicki Groom: Right.

00:44:35Regan Siler: Do you have? So, being retired, I know that you, obviously, you have your volunteer things. Do you have any hobbies? Or do you have time for hobbies?

00:44:48Vicki Groom: Well, I go to the retired teachers' luncheon once every month. And then, like I said, I do my two Bible studies every week. I just really wrap myself up to my grandkids.

00:45:04Regan Siler: Your grandkids?

00:45:05Vicki Groom: I do a lot for them. I pick them up from school often, and just do a lot with them.

00:45:13Regan Siler: Well, I can see myself entering into the new grandparent situation. It's a wonderful place to be.

00:45:25Vicki Groom: It is. I am so blessed to have them and get to be in their lives.

00:45:28Regan Siler: To get to be in their lives, yeah. So, how do you feel the world is different now than when you were a child? So, what do you feel like is our nation's biggest problem, and how do you think it could be solved? Oh, I'm gonna challenge you.

00:45:50Vicki Groom: I'm not a Trump fan. And I feel like so many things we're doing now, we're just we're not respected like we used to be in the past, our country. And I feel like there's so much friction and fighting. And I think that's because of our administration or because of Trump. Because, you know, he puts Republicans against Democrats. You know, I remember when President Kennedy was being elected, I was in elementary school. And that's when I first realized there were Democrats and Republicans. I mean, because it was just like we were one, we were one nation. But now it just seems like there's clashes. And you know, you're a Democrat, it's almost like, you know, you're not worthy.

00:46:41Regan Siler: Right.

00:46:42Vicki Groom: And so, I just think that that's a terrible thing that we've come to that.

00:46:47Regan Siler: So, whenever you were a kid, because I kind of ran those two questions together. You remember growing up when you were a kid, versus, say, like your grandkids now. How do you feel? How do you see the world as different for, say whenever you were growing up, versus like the world for your grandkids?

00:47:03Vicki Groom: Technology. It's, you know, the cell phone, the iPhones, the internet. It's just, the iPads, you know. I mean, my young Carson (ph), who's in first grade, his mom had to say you cannot be on your iPad during the week. Only on the weekends, because he would stay on that IPad 24/7. Kids don't get outside and play.

00:47:29Regan Siler: Right.

00:47:30Vicki Groom: You know, run around and everything. They're always on that iPad or on the computer.

00:47:33Regan Siler: So, how do you feel about technology in school for young people, for the younger?

00:47:39Vicki Groom: And, you know, it was there when I was.

00:47:41Regan Siler: Yeah.

00:47:42Vicki Groom: And I did fight against it.

00:47:44Vicki Groom: So, you know, it's good in a way. Most all of the state tests now are on the computer. So, you want the kids familiar with the computer, you know, because we're all [indecipherable].

00:47:44Regan Siler: Right.

00:47:54Regan Siler: But maybe not ruling their lives?

00:47:56Vicki Groom: Exactly, exactly. I don't like a teacher giving the kids their laptops, and they all have laptops now in class, and saying you do this side, this side. And, you know what is she doing, sitting up there.

00:48:13Regan Siler: Yeah.

00:48:13Vicki Groom: Because, you know you're losing a lot. You know, the personal relationship with teacher and student.

00:48:20Regan Siler: Which I also think our kids have lost because of technology, the ability to communicate.

00:48:26Vicki Groom: You are right.

00:48:26Regan Siler: And I see that a lot myself. But I can imagine being in school and seeing for the span of time that you taught, from, you know, 1970s to, you know, almost present day of the difference in kids, just kids in general.

00:48:45Vicki Groom: Yes, yes. And parents. I want to tell you a big difference is when I first started and a kid would get in trouble, and a parent would come to the office. They, you know, they were going, you're gonna get it. You know, you get a spanking here, you're gonna get spanked when you get home from school. When I retired, it was like, no, my child would not do that. My child does not lie. So, the best thing that we had, I had 21 cameras in Collins. And so, I would go, come here, let me let you watch this video of when they stole out of the backpack.

00:49:21Regan Siler: Oh, no!

00:49:22Vicki Groom: But yeah, parents, they don't believe their kids can do wrong, you know.

00:49:30Regan Siler: Okay. So, how have historic events, for instance, like maybe the Oklahoma City bombing, or 9/11, natural disasters? Heck, even covid. Do you recall any of those events affecting you personally or the community, or any of that?

00:49:54Vicki Groom: Well, of course, covid was a big, major thing. I mean, I wasn't in the school system then. But, you know, everybody wearing masks and all of that. And I do remember 9/11, I was actually teaching third grade in the old, old part of Edison. And I remember my father-in-law, who was an attorney in Oklahoma City, frequented that building, and so I was really worried about him. But I know that was no, that was not, no wait a minute. What happened when the... No, the 9/11 I was at Washington, as a principal, when they bombed the two.

00:50:40Regan Siler: So, maybe the Oklahoma City bombing is that what you're thinking of?

00:50:43Vicki Groom: Yes. The Oklahoma City bombing was before that.

00:50:46Regan Siler: Right.

00:50:46Vicki Groom: Yes. And that's when I just worked and that that really affected me, you know, until I heard from him, knew he was alright. You know, all of the, I know what really bothered me was the daycare there, all the little kids that got killed.

00:51:02Vicki Groom: And then when you go visit, we used to take the kids to go visit the memorial, and you see all. They had a room, I remember you went in and you heard the bombing. You heard the bomb. And so, it was really, really heartwarming, touching.

00:51:02Regan Siler: Yes, yes.

00:51:20Regan Siler: Yeah, right. Well, is there anything else that you would like to tell us, or any wisdom you would like to share for future generations? What do you want your grandkids to know, or a piece of advice for them to carry through?

00:51:21Vicki Groom: Well, I mean, I want parents to respect teachers, respect administration, realize no kid is perfect. All kids lie. So, you know, don't have blinders on when someone's talking to you about your kids. Keep your kids in church and keep them grounded with the Lord. I think that's very important. And, you know, enjoy life.

00:52:06Regan Siler: Enjoy life. Okay, well, your interview will become an important part of the Oral History Archives for the museum. Thank you for taking the time to talk with us. We really appreciate it.

00:52:16Vicki Groom: Thank you.