Elaine Dawson Johns was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and immigrated to the United States as a young child. She was adopted into a military Navy family and settled in San Diego, California. After attending several schools, her parents decided to have her settle into one final school. Elaine graduated from Hennessey High School in 1975 while living with her grandparents, Orville and Eudora Dawson, in Hennessey, Oklahoma.
During her time at Hennessey High School, Elaine was voted Class Clown and also participated as a pom pom girl. Living with her grandparents in the countryside west of Hennessey, she fondly remembers the shale roads where she often got stuck and the fun bus rides that helped her make great friends. Elaine credits her deep love and passion for history to Mr. Lee Briix, her favorite teacher at Hennessey High. She also attributes her public speaking skills to Ms. Marilyn Hardy and her writing abilities to Ms. Marjorie Anderson.
Elaine took college courses through the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma Baptist University; however, she humorously refers to her “BS Degree” as being in bootstrapping. “There’s no better way to immerse yourself in a project and soak up the education like a sponge,” she stated.
Elaine married Eddie Johns shortly after her graduation and was sworn in as an American citizen in Enid, Oklahoma, by Judge Russell Swanson in 1976. She began her career working for Norman Perkins and, after the birth of her first child, moved to Drummond to raise her family. There, she started volunteering in the school system and served as the town treasurer for Drummond. Elaine also dedicated 12 years to serving on the Drummond School Board.
Now married for 49 years, Elaine has three children: Jennifer, Julie, and Andy, as well as four grandchildren: Corbin, Ceara, Alicia, and Diego. Although she comes from a military family, Elaine remains actively involved in military-related activities as the founder and director of events at the Woodring Wall of Honor and Veterans Park in Enid, Oklahoma.
Her motivation for starting the Veterans Park stems from her grandfather, a humble oil field pumper who, unbeknownst to her until later in life, was an infantry soldier who landed at Omaha Beach. He passed away from cancer before she learned the full extent of his service, having marched across Europe, fought in the Battle of the Bulge, and survived crossing the Bridge of Remagen before it collapsed.
Elaine is also an active member of the First Baptist Church in Enid, where she leads the senior adult ministry. Additionally, she has been a member of the Singing Churchwomen of Oklahoma for 33 years. Elaine has achieved numerous prestigious accomplishments and has poured her heart and soul into the Veterans Park at Enid Woodring Regional Airport. If you have a chance, stop by to see the results of her hard work.
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