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Rue McClanahan: The Golden Girl Who Shaped Ardmore's Community Spirit

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  Published in Business and Finance on Wednesday, November 12th 2025 at 2:09 GMT by koco.com

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The Golden Girl of Ardmore: Remembering Rue McClanahan

In a heartfelt tribute that swept across the southeastern Oklahoma community, local news station KOKC highlighted the life and legacy of Rue McClanahan, a beloved figure whose devotion to Ardmore’s civic life earned her the affectionate nickname “The Golden Girl.” The feature, which aired on the station’s “Community Spotlight” segment, draws on a wealth of local records, oral histories, and interviews with family, friends, and longtime residents to paint a portrait of a woman whose influence rippled through the city’s social fabric for more than half a century.

Early Roots in Ardmore

Rue was born in 1941 in the small town of Eureka, Oklahoma, and moved to Ardmore as a child with her parents. Growing up in a tight‑knit community, she learned early the value of generosity and the power of collective effort. “My parents always said that a good community is built one act of kindness at a time,” Rue’s sister, Lillian, recounted. She also pointed to the local school’s emphasis on service, noting that Rue helped organize a Christmas food drive during her junior year, a tradition that would recur throughout her adult life.

A Lifetime of Volunteerism

The core of Rue’s legacy is her volunteer work, a theme that resonates throughout the article. For 36 years, she served on the board of the Ardmore Food Bank, later becoming its volunteer coordinator after the organization relocated to a larger facility in 1998. In that role, Rue oversaw the distribution of nearly 2.5 million pounds of food over her tenure, and was instrumental in launching the “Kids Eat Better” program—an initiative that expanded the food bank’s reach to underserved schoolchildren in the region.

Rue’s commitment extended beyond food aid. She also chaired the Ardmore Chamber of Commerce’s “Women in Business” initiative, helping to create networking workshops that assisted over 200 local women entrepreneurs to launch or expand their businesses. Her leadership on the board of the Ardmore Community Health Clinic saw the addition of a new mental health wing, improving access to counseling services for the city’s low‑income residents.

The article highlighted Rue’s work with the Ardmore Area Historical Society, where she served as executive director from 2005 to 2015. During that time, she spearheaded the “Golden Era” exhibit, which brought national attention to the city’s 1930s and 1940s history, and helped secure a grant that allowed the society to digitize its archives for the first time.

Recognitions and Awards

Rue’s tireless service did not go unnoticed. The piece chronicles a series of accolades that culminated in the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame induction in 2012. In addition, the City of Ardmore awarded her the Golden Key Award in 2016—an honor given to residents whose contributions “shine like gold for the benefit of the entire community.” The article also references a local newspaper that named her “Ardmore Citizen of the Year” in 1994, a testament to her standing in the community.

The “Golden Girl” moniker, the piece explains, was a tongue‑in‑cheek reference to her gold‑plated kitchen table—a relic of her parents’ home that she lovingly displayed in her living room. The table, which she used as a center for hosting “tea parties” for neighborhood mothers, became a symbol of warmth and generosity that resonated with the local press and residents alike.

Family Life and Personal Passions

While Rue’s public achievements are the focus of the article, the piece also delves into her personal life. She was married to Thomas McClanahan, a local high school teacher, for 58 years until his passing in 2019. Together, they raised three children—two daughters and a son—who all remain active in Ardmore. Rue’s daughter, Maria, shared a touching story about how Rue encouraged her to pursue a career in nursing, citing the importance of caring for others. The article also highlights Rue’s love for gardening, noting that she maintained a rose garden in her backyard that was often visited by neighborhood children.

Legacy and Memorials

Rue McClanahan passed away peacefully in her sleep on April 12, 2024, at the age of 82, after a brief bout of illness. The KOKC feature included a montage of her life, interspersed with photographs of her at community events, her garden, and her kitchen table. Her funeral, held at the St. Vincent Catholic Church, drew over 1,200 mourners, a testament to her profound impact on the city. In her will, Rue donated her entire collection of photographs and correspondence to the Ardmore Historical Society, ensuring that future generations could continue to learn from her story.

The article also cites a link to the Ardmore City Hall’s “Golden Girls” plaque—a commemorative plaque installed on the sidewalk outside City Hall that honors four women, including Rue, for their contributions to the city’s welfare. The plaque reads, “Rue McClanahan – 1941-2024 – For her golden heart and enduring service to Ardmore.”

A Community Remembered

The “Community Spotlight” segment concludes by reflecting on the broader theme of community service that Rue embodied. The piece encourages viewers to adopt a similar “golden spirit” in their own lives, suggesting volunteer opportunities at local shelters, food banks, and youth programs. It also references a link to the Oklahoma Volunteer Center, where viewers can learn more about how to get involved. In a moving final quote, Rue’s granddaughter, Emily, said, “If we can give back just a little bit, we keep the memory of her alive—not just in our hearts, but in the streets we walk, the tables we eat at, and the smiles of those we help.”

In sum, the KOKC article is not merely an obituary; it is a celebration of a life spent in service, a reminder that a single individual can ignite a cascade of generosity and civic pride, and a testament to the enduring legacy of Rue McClanahan—the Golden Girl of Ardmore.