Carolyn Whitener

And I meet Carolyn Whitener. I'm 76, soon be 77. She...

And I meet Carolyn Whitener. I'm 76, soon be 77. She...

Will you have a beer with me? No, I can't. I'm a diabetic. I can drink a little, but not much. Thank you. And I've got some brownies over here.

Will you have a beer with me? No, I can't. I'm a diabetic. I can drink a little, but not much. Thank you. And I've got some brownies over here.

Well, tell me about yourself.

Well, tell me about yourself.

She actually told me, like, up front, she's like, I'm proud of the young women. I have a granddaughter that's 23 or 24.

She actually told me, like, up front, she's like, I'm proud of the young women. I have a granddaughter that's 23 or 24.

Generation. But see, my name was never tied in with it. It was always Craig's name. So, you know, it wasn't that big a deal.

Generation. But see, my name was never tied in with it. It was always Craig's name. So, you know, it wasn't that big a deal.

I was an oil field trash. That's what we were called, oil field trash.

I was an oil field trash. That's what we were called, oil field trash.

But my dad, he taught all three of us how to weld. He was a welder. How to work on a car.

But my dad, he taught all three of us how to weld. He was a welder. How to work on a car.

And what attracted you to him? His mind. He had an excellent mind. And he was just a farm boy with no education. He never went to college. But he could have been about anything he'd have wanted to have been.

And what attracted you to him? His mind. He had an excellent mind. And he was just a farm boy with no education. He never went to college. But he could have been about anything he'd have wanted to have been.

I was somebody new in town.

I was somebody new in town.

But I married him when I turned 18. Yes. I don't know who that is. I'm going to turn that off. And when I married my husband, I was equal to him except the money, and he didn't think anybody could handle that but him. He acted like he was raising me, and he probably was.

But I married him when I turned 18. Yes. I don't know who that is. I'm going to turn that off. And when I married my husband, I was equal to him except the money, and he didn't think anybody could handle that but him. He acted like he was raising me, and he probably was.

But he just was pure German girl. Have you ever met a German man? OK, they are in total control.

But he just was pure German girl. Have you ever met a German man? OK, they are in total control.

We didn't know what homecoming was. Had no idea what homecoming was. But shortly after moving to Stillwater, they opened the doors to the Hunk and Holler. And where we went in was just about three blocks, four blocks from the college. And we went into business there. A drive-thru convenience store. It was like the real old gas station with the oil pit in the floor.

We didn't know what homecoming was. Had no idea what homecoming was. But shortly after moving to Stillwater, they opened the doors to the Hunk and Holler. And where we went in was just about three blocks, four blocks from the college. And we went into business there. A drive-thru convenience store. It was like the real old gas station with the oil pit in the floor.

And you'd have to go out and wait on them, come back in and get what they wanted and take it back out. So it's a lot of in and out and in and out. All night long. You wear tennis shoes out real fast. So it was all sheer energy and guts. Homecoming night. We were supposed to close at 11. The store is flooded with customers. Till I think two or three o'clock in the morning.

And you'd have to go out and wait on them, come back in and get what they wanted and take it back out. So it's a lot of in and out and in and out. All night long. You wear tennis shoes out real fast. So it was all sheer energy and guts. Homecoming night. We were supposed to close at 11. The store is flooded with customers. Till I think two or three o'clock in the morning.

And it, yeah, I never did get to see Homecoming. All I saw was cars coming in and out.

And it, yeah, I never did get to see Homecoming. All I saw was cars coming in and out.

So one day I was behind the counter. People coming in and out. Mark Walker walks into the honking holler. The young man came in to talk to me. She doesn't really have time to talk. She's running in and out. But he stood there waiting patiently. I bet he was in there four hours and he was looking at the beer license. He looks at the license and he notices that Carolyn's name is the one on it.

So one day I was behind the counter. People coming in and out. Mark Walker walks into the honking holler. The young man came in to talk to me. She doesn't really have time to talk. She's running in and out. But he stood there waiting patiently. I bet he was in there four hours and he was looking at the beer license. He looks at the license and he notices that Carolyn's name is the one on it.

Anyway, at a certain point, in between all the hunks and hollers, he asked me what I thought about the beer laws. And I told him. I was very vocal about it. I always had been. She says it doesn't make any sense. We send these young men off to war. They were being drafted at 18.

Anyway, at a certain point, in between all the hunks and hollers, he asked me what I thought about the beer laws. And I told him. I was very vocal about it. I always had been. She says it doesn't make any sense. We send these young men off to war. They were being drafted at 18.

So eventually when Mark Walker asked for her help, he said he was going to do a term paper. She's like, sure, why not? I was always willing to help them because they had helped us get started. And I still thought it was a term paper. So was he not being completely honest with you then? Well, I didn't hear half of what he said. I was busy every time he came in.

So eventually when Mark Walker asked for her help, he said he was going to do a term paper. She's like, sure, why not? I was always willing to help them because they had helped us get started. And I still thought it was a term paper. So was he not being completely honest with you then? Well, I didn't hear half of what he said. I was busy every time he came in.

So, you know, it wasn't that important at the time. So I didn't think any more about it. He left. My husband was gone. He was out of state working. And I didn't even say anything to him about it. It wasn't important. You know, I just thought it was a conversation.

So, you know, it wasn't that important at the time. So I didn't think any more about it. He left. My husband was gone. He was out of state working. And I didn't even say anything to him about it. It wasn't important. You know, I just thought it was a conversation.

But I think it was a couple of months later, because my husband was out of state every month.

But I think it was a couple of months later, because my husband was out of state every month.

No. No idea. And I got a phone call. My husband was on the phone. Well, I had salesmen in, and I had people coming in and out. And he was irate. He was furious. I couldn't figure out what was going on. She was like, case? What are you talking about? Well, he had picked up a newspaper in North Carolina in a bank, and it was on the front page of the newspaper. with my name and about us suing.

No. No idea. And I got a phone call. My husband was on the phone. Well, I had salesmen in, and I had people coming in and out. And he was irate. He was furious. I couldn't figure out what was going on. She was like, case? What are you talking about? Well, he had picked up a newspaper in North Carolina in a bank, and it was on the front page of the newspaper. with my name and about us suing.

It looked like we sued everybody in the state of Oklahoma that was in office all the way down to the garbage man. He's like, what did you do?

It looked like we sued everybody in the state of Oklahoma that was in office all the way down to the garbage man. He's like, what did you do?

I was back and forth on that phone with him, trying to wait on customers. And I bet that took about three hours, and he would not let up. I mean, he kept calling back and calling back. He called a lawyer. He was mad. And then the last phone call, he said, I am flying back in, and he said, you pick me up. A couple nights later, she drove to the airport. Picked him up, and he was still mad.

I was back and forth on that phone with him, trying to wait on customers. And I bet that took about three hours, and he would not let up. I mean, he kept calling back and calling back. He called a lawyer. He was mad. And then the last phone call, he said, I am flying back in, and he said, you pick me up. A couple nights later, she drove to the airport. Picked him up, and he was still mad.

That was the longest car ride. As they drove back, she says he just lectured her the whole ride. I just listened to him.

That was the longest car ride. As they drove back, she says he just lectured her the whole ride. I just listened to him.

I don't know what he said word to word. I just know he was strong with what he said. With my husband, it was best to just be silent. I was never afraid of him, but I knew how far to push it. The time we got from the airport to the other side, it was about an hour and 20 minutes. That's a long hour and 20 minutes in the car where you can't get out.

I don't know what he said word to word. I just know he was strong with what he said. With my husband, it was best to just be silent. I was never afraid of him, but I knew how far to push it. The time we got from the airport to the other side, it was about an hour and 20 minutes. That's a long hour and 20 minutes in the car where you can't get out.

Like, I know you want me to drop this case, but I'm going to fight this. He threatened me every which way. I didn't budge. And probably the reason why I didn't budge, because he fought me so hard on it. You know, I believed in it. I had never stepped out like that. That's the first time I really put my foot down and didn't budge. I gave so much to him. I mean, I didn't get a salary for 25 years.

Like, I know you want me to drop this case, but I'm going to fight this. He threatened me every which way. I didn't budge. And probably the reason why I didn't budge, because he fought me so hard on it. You know, I believed in it. I had never stepped out like that. That's the first time I really put my foot down and didn't budge. I gave so much to him. I mean, I didn't get a salary for 25 years.

I didn't ask for it. I figured we were equal. I figured I worked the same hours he did. And I figured I stood beside him, not behind him and not in front of him. Coming up, Carolyn goes to court. Stay tuned.

I didn't ask for it. I figured we were equal. I figured I worked the same hours he did. And I figured I stood beside him, not behind him and not in front of him. Coming up, Carolyn goes to court. Stay tuned.

I haven't ran across very many people that I didn't care for. I didn't care for Fred. He was so pushy. Insists that Carolyn needs to come to D.C. I didn't have the money to go, and I didn't want to go. I never traveled anywhere by myself.

I haven't ran across very many people that I didn't care for. I didn't care for Fred. He was so pushy. Insists that Carolyn needs to come to D.C. I didn't have the money to go, and I didn't want to go. I never traveled anywhere by myself.

I had borrowed a dress. Plastic. Looked like leather.

I had borrowed a dress. Plastic. Looked like leather.

High heels.

High heels.

It was so big.

It was so big.

I felt like I was walking forever up those stairs. I was burning up. I was sweating.

I felt like I was walking forever up those stairs. I was burning up. I was sweating.

Curtis was sitting beside me, and I kept punching him. What does that mean? What are they talking about? What does that mean? And he kept saying, shh, shh, just be quiet until it's over. I'll tell you.

Curtis was sitting beside me, and I kept punching him. What does that mean? What are they talking about? What does that mean? And he kept saying, shh, shh, just be quiet until it's over. I'll tell you.

I didn't understand what they were doing.

I didn't understand what they were doing.

A saloon keeper.

A saloon keeper.

I tell you, when he called me that in the Supreme Court, I came so near standing up and correcting him. And I've always wondered to this day why I didn't.

I tell you, when he called me that in the Supreme Court, I came so near standing up and correcting him. And I've always wondered to this day why I didn't.

That was really something, seeing this little woman get up.

That was really something, seeing this little woman get up.

I'll never forget that, because she was small.

I'll never forget that, because she was small.

She's so small in person, but she had a lot of force.

She's so small in person, but she had a lot of force.

I had just came in from work. I was at home by myself there in Stillwater. She's by herself in the kitchen. And the phone rings. And who calls? Who called? National News called to tell me that we had won. I didn't ask what we had won. I didn't ask anything. I just said, okay. She hung up.

I had just came in from work. I was at home by myself there in Stillwater. She's by herself in the kitchen. And the phone rings. And who calls? Who called? National News called to tell me that we had won. I didn't ask what we had won. I didn't ask anything. I just said, okay. She hung up.

Stood there for a little bit, and then Craig called, and he wanted me to come down and celebrate with the guys there at his fraternity. She told him, no thanks. And then she hangs up the phone, and she gets one more phone call. And it was my husband. He was in North Carolina again. And he heard... He heard something about the case, but he didn't hear it all. And he said, what's going on now?

Stood there for a little bit, and then Craig called, and he wanted me to come down and celebrate with the guys there at his fraternity. She told him, no thanks. And then she hangs up the phone, and she gets one more phone call. And it was my husband. He was in North Carolina again. And he heard... He heard something about the case, but he didn't hear it all. And he said, what's going on now?

And I said, we won.

And I said, we won.

I said, it's over. It's totally over with. He said, good. And he hung up. I fixed me a very good drink, vodka and coke. Sat down in the middle of the floor, and that's the way I celebrated. I drank that drink all by myself, and it was over with. It was over with.

I said, it's over. It's totally over with. He said, good. And he hung up. I fixed me a very good drink, vodka and coke. Sat down in the middle of the floor, and that's the way I celebrated. I drank that drink all by myself, and it was over with. It was over with.

Probably a couple of years after we won that case. I went into China right after it opened up. She saved up money and went with her sister-in-law because Duane didn't want to come with him. I did. I was so curious. And we never went like the tourists went. We'd get on a train and if we saw something we wanted to stop and see, we would stop. We never had a schedule. I never did really go to shop.

Probably a couple of years after we won that case. I went into China right after it opened up. She saved up money and went with her sister-in-law because Duane didn't want to come with him. I did. I was so curious. And we never went like the tourists went. We'd get on a train and if we saw something we wanted to stop and see, we would stop. We never had a schedule. I never did really go to shop.

you

you

Can you read it? No, I don't have my glasses. You'll have to read it.

Can you read it? No, I don't have my glasses. You'll have to read it.

Yeah. I was going to get that framed, but I haven't done it yet.

Yeah. I was going to get that framed, but I haven't done it yet.

I need to get it laminated before I have it framed.

I need to get it laminated before I have it framed.

And I meet Carolyn Whitener. I'm 76, soon be 77. She...

Will you have a beer with me? No, I can't. I'm a diabetic. I can drink a little, but not much. Thank you. And I've got some brownies over here.

Well, tell me about yourself.

She actually told me, like, up front, she's like, I'm proud of the young women. I have a granddaughter that's 23 or 24.

Generation. But see, my name was never tied in with it. It was always Craig's name. So, you know, it wasn't that big a deal.

I was an oil field trash. That's what we were called, oil field trash.

But my dad, he taught all three of us how to weld. He was a welder. How to work on a car.

And what attracted you to him? His mind. He had an excellent mind. And he was just a farm boy with no education. He never went to college. But he could have been about anything he'd have wanted to have been.

I was somebody new in town.

But I married him when I turned 18. Yes. I don't know who that is. I'm going to turn that off. And when I married my husband, I was equal to him except the money, and he didn't think anybody could handle that but him. He acted like he was raising me, and he probably was.

But he just was pure German girl. Have you ever met a German man? OK, they are in total control.

We didn't know what homecoming was. Had no idea what homecoming was. But shortly after moving to Stillwater, they opened the doors to the Hunk and Holler. And where we went in was just about three blocks, four blocks from the college. And we went into business there. A drive-thru convenience store. It was like the real old gas station with the oil pit in the floor.

And you'd have to go out and wait on them, come back in and get what they wanted and take it back out. So it's a lot of in and out and in and out. All night long. You wear tennis shoes out real fast. So it was all sheer energy and guts. Homecoming night. We were supposed to close at 11. The store is flooded with customers. Till I think two or three o'clock in the morning.

And it, yeah, I never did get to see Homecoming. All I saw was cars coming in and out.

So one day I was behind the counter. People coming in and out. Mark Walker walks into the honking holler. The young man came in to talk to me. She doesn't really have time to talk. She's running in and out. But he stood there waiting patiently. I bet he was in there four hours and he was looking at the beer license. He looks at the license and he notices that Carolyn's name is the one on it.

Anyway, at a certain point, in between all the hunks and hollers, he asked me what I thought about the beer laws. And I told him. I was very vocal about it. I always had been. She says it doesn't make any sense. We send these young men off to war. They were being drafted at 18.

So eventually when Mark Walker asked for her help, he said he was going to do a term paper. She's like, sure, why not? I was always willing to help them because they had helped us get started. And I still thought it was a term paper. So was he not being completely honest with you then? Well, I didn't hear half of what he said. I was busy every time he came in.

So, you know, it wasn't that important at the time. So I didn't think any more about it. He left. My husband was gone. He was out of state working. And I didn't even say anything to him about it. It wasn't important. You know, I just thought it was a conversation.

But I think it was a couple of months later, because my husband was out of state every month.

No. No idea. And I got a phone call. My husband was on the phone. Well, I had salesmen in, and I had people coming in and out. And he was irate. He was furious. I couldn't figure out what was going on. She was like, case? What are you talking about? Well, he had picked up a newspaper in North Carolina in a bank, and it was on the front page of the newspaper. with my name and about us suing.

It looked like we sued everybody in the state of Oklahoma that was in office all the way down to the garbage man. He's like, what did you do?

I was back and forth on that phone with him, trying to wait on customers. And I bet that took about three hours, and he would not let up. I mean, he kept calling back and calling back. He called a lawyer. He was mad. And then the last phone call, he said, I am flying back in, and he said, you pick me up. A couple nights later, she drove to the airport. Picked him up, and he was still mad.

That was the longest car ride. As they drove back, she says he just lectured her the whole ride. I just listened to him.

I don't know what he said word to word. I just know he was strong with what he said. With my husband, it was best to just be silent. I was never afraid of him, but I knew how far to push it. The time we got from the airport to the other side, it was about an hour and 20 minutes. That's a long hour and 20 minutes in the car where you can't get out.

Like, I know you want me to drop this case, but I'm going to fight this. He threatened me every which way. I didn't budge. And probably the reason why I didn't budge, because he fought me so hard on it. You know, I believed in it. I had never stepped out like that. That's the first time I really put my foot down and didn't budge. I gave so much to him. I mean, I didn't get a salary for 25 years.

I didn't ask for it. I figured we were equal. I figured I worked the same hours he did. And I figured I stood beside him, not behind him and not in front of him. Coming up, Carolyn goes to court. Stay tuned.

I haven't ran across very many people that I didn't care for. I didn't care for Fred. He was so pushy. Insists that Carolyn needs to come to D.C. I didn't have the money to go, and I didn't want to go. I never traveled anywhere by myself.

I had borrowed a dress. Plastic. Looked like leather.

High heels.

It was so big.

I felt like I was walking forever up those stairs. I was burning up. I was sweating.

Curtis was sitting beside me, and I kept punching him. What does that mean? What are they talking about? What does that mean? And he kept saying, shh, shh, just be quiet until it's over. I'll tell you.

I didn't understand what they were doing.

A saloon keeper.

I tell you, when he called me that in the Supreme Court, I came so near standing up and correcting him. And I've always wondered to this day why I didn't.

That was really something, seeing this little woman get up.

I'll never forget that, because she was small.

She's so small in person, but she had a lot of force.

I had just came in from work. I was at home by myself there in Stillwater. She's by herself in the kitchen. And the phone rings. And who calls? Who called? National News called to tell me that we had won. I didn't ask what we had won. I didn't ask anything. I just said, okay. She hung up.

Stood there for a little bit, and then Craig called, and he wanted me to come down and celebrate with the guys there at his fraternity. She told him, no thanks. And then she hangs up the phone, and she gets one more phone call. And it was my husband. He was in North Carolina again. And he heard... He heard something about the case, but he didn't hear it all. And he said, what's going on now?

And I said, we won.

I said, it's over. It's totally over with. He said, good. And he hung up. I fixed me a very good drink, vodka and coke. Sat down in the middle of the floor, and that's the way I celebrated. I drank that drink all by myself, and it was over with. It was over with.

Probably a couple of years after we won that case. I went into China right after it opened up. She saved up money and went with her sister-in-law because Duane didn't want to come with him. I did. I was so curious. And we never went like the tourists went. We'd get on a train and if we saw something we wanted to stop and see, we would stop. We never had a schedule. I never did really go to shop.

you

Can you read it? No, I don't have my glasses. You'll have to read it.

Yeah. I was going to get that framed, but I haven't done it yet.

I need to get it laminated before I have it framed.