Mike Vaclaw
After graduating from Col-Hi I
attended Oklahoma University on a football scholarship. While preparing for the All-State game in Oklahoma City, I met a wonderful young lady and developed a sincere interest in her. She went to BYU and I was at OU so things developed slowly. After my freshman year I served as a missionary for the LDS Church on the east coast and continued my interest in her for 2 years via the U.S. Postal service. I returned home in the summer of 1963 and started training for the OU fall football practice. Practice continued for 2 weeks and on the last day of practice before school started I had my leg broken so badly that I couldn't continue playing football. That was probably the best thing that could have happened. I really got serious about my studies and serious with the young lady, Robbie, my wife of 46 years. I was accepted into dental school and graduated in 1968.
After a two year hitch in the Armed Forces, I established a practice in Bartlesville. I worked for 35 years as a dentist, achieving a fellowship in the AGD and Mastership in the AGD (Academy of General Dentistry). Robbie and I have 8 children and 21 grandchildren. Five of the children live in Bartlesville along with 18 of the grandkids. I retired in 2005 and moved to our farm where we enjoy the country life.