Wayne M. Day

© Shawnee News-Star

2/22/08

Longtime Seminole resident and college administrator Wayne M. Day, 75, passed from this life Tuesday morning, Feb. 19, 2008, at Integris Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City. He was born Nov. 25, 1932, in Woodward, Okla., to John F. Day and Villa K. (Johnson) Day.

Following graduation from Woodward High School, Wayne joined the U.S. Army and served state side during the Korean Conflict. Mr. Day went on to earn his Bachelor of Science degree from Panhandle A&M College, now Panhandle State University.

He married JaNene Shuyler on May 25, 1956, in Buffalo, Okla.

Education was very important to Mr. Day. He earned a Master Teaching Degree from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant. Mr. Day commuted to graduate classes at The University of Oklahoma while working at Murray State College in Tishomingo, Okla. During this time is when Mr. Day met Dr. Elmer Tanner, then president of a two-year college, which was struggling to build a campus and a student body. In their conversations between classes, Day learned that the local community was voting a sales tax to support the new college and he decided to accept an offer from Tanner to come to work at Seminole Junior College where he worked until his retirement June 30, 1996, after 25 years. During those years he had served the College in 1971 as the Director of Cooperative Education and the Director of Federal Programs.

In July 1977, Day began service as Dean of Admissions and Records and was the College's official Registrar. His duties were expanded in 1987 when he became Dean of Students. Since 1990, he served as Vice President of Student Affairs.

In addition to supervision of the admissions office, Day was responsible for the areas of financial aid, campus police, housing, Affirmative Action compliance and the college's federally funded Trio programs. Throughout his years at Seminole Junior College, Day also served periodically as an instructor in mathematics and continuing education for realtors.

Mr. Day has seen a lot of changes through the years. In the area of enrollment, the numbers have sky rocketed, the campus has grown well beyond anything he could have ever imagined. Mr. Day has played a pivotal roll in making Higher Education in Seminole what it is today at Seminole State College. Never dreaming that in 1971 when he moved his family to Seminole, Oklahoma, he would become such an icon and a well respected member of our community.

Mr. Day was a very active member of the community and in civic affairs. He is a past chairman of the administrative board of the First United Methodist Church. He is a former member of the Lions Club; he had also been active with the Chamber of Commerce, he is also a charter member of the Seminole Elks Lodge where he served as the lodges first secretary. He was involved in local youth activities; he is a former youth soccer coach and spent ten years coaching pony league baseball. Mr. Day was serving as the current President of the Seminole Housing Authority, where former Seminole Mayor Gene Price appointed him a member many years ago. Mr. Day was also on the Library Trust Committee until his death.

During the 1977 national observance of the country's bicentennial, he served as chairman of the Seminole Bicentennial Committee. In the early 1970's, Day was appointed by the late United States Senator Dewey Bartlett to serve on the state's seven-member Academy Selection Board.

In the mid-1970's, Day was elected president of the state Association of Higher Education, an affiliate of the Oklahoma Education Association.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, ZoeLinda Day (1957); and one brother Gerald Day (2004).

Mr. Day leaves to cherish his memory his wife of 51 years, JaNene Day of the home; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Brad Day of Seminole and Craig Day and his wife, Anissa Day, of Owasso, Okla.; two daughters and sons-in-law, JoLynn and husband, Billy McCarver Jr., of Wapanucka, Okla., and LaDawn and husband, Bill Fulgenzi, of Yukon;. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Sharlotte Fulgenzi, Adrian Day, Andrew Day, Rebecca Fulgenzi, Jackson Day, Addison Day and Audrey Day.

Service will be 2 p.m. Saturday at the First United Methodist Church in Seminole with the Rev. Gary Wilburn officiating. Burial will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery in Seminole.

Honorary bearers will be all former and current administration and staff of Seminole State College.

The family has designated the Wayne Day Memorial Scholarship fund as appropriate for memorial donations in care of Seminole State College, Educational Foundation, P.O. Box 351, Seminole, Oklahoma 74818-0351.

The casket will remain open until service time and will not be re-opened following the service.

Messages of condolence can be sent to the family online at www.swearingenfuneralhome.com.

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