Dale Rice '61

Class of '61 Ring Returned - 45 Years Later!

In March, 2006 we were contacted by Terri Craig, an attorney in Wagoner, Oklahoma, who had a Nathan Hale 1961 Class Ring.  She wanted our help to find the original owner and return it, if possible. 

She had located our web site on the internet, and based on the initials engraved on the ring, she thought that it probably belonged to either David Rose or Dale Rice in Hale’s Class of ’61 - our very first graduating class. 

By looking at our database records, I determined that, of the two, it had to belong to Dale Rice.  Using the outdated contact information from our records, I did an internet search and found a phone number in Tennessee.

When I called, Dale answered the phone and I explained to him who I was and why I was calling him “out of the blue”.  He couldn’t believe it!  He told me that he was never sure, but he had assumed that he had lost his ring in Grand Lake the summer after graduating from high school. 

Terri Craig told us that her mother, who actually found the ring, said it was found in with a bunch of keys and other old jewelry in some furniture they bought over ten years ago!  She believes that she bought the furniture piece in Muskogee.

I gave Dale the contact information for Terri Craig.  I heard from her later that day. She had been contacted by Dale and they were making arrangements to send the Class Ring to him.  She added….”My son is busy making a care package for Mr. Rice.  He actually loved the big old ring but is glad it has found its rightful owner.”

-submitted by Karen Moon '74, Alumni webmaster