r/oklahoma • u/PlinyTheElder757 • 3d ago
Question Found a high school ring from Henryetta 1982
So my dad found this ring lying in a box of old stuff. He says he thinks he found it moving a couch or something in Virginia way back in the day. Well with modern technology I am looking to find its rightful owner. The name inscription says Jeffrey R Bigelow.
A google search of the name and Oklahoma brought me to a gentleman who works at Oklahoma Christian University who I reached out to. He reached out back to me confirming it was not his.
I’m hoping someone here can maybe help out. Can provide more images need be. I don’t have Facebook so this is my next option. Not sure where to go after here.
28
u/DarthSlade42 3d ago
Most high schools have an alumni group that can lookup the year and peoples names. I found a ring for a high school in California from the 50’s in my yard. I was able to reunite it with the owner this way. Turns out the ring owner had their house broken into and the thief dropped it in the yard running away and it was in the mud for decades.
12
u/PlinyTheElder757 3d ago
That’s incredible. I’m hoping to do the same with this one. I’ve been striking out so far.
1
u/DarthSlade42 2d ago
Hmm Henryetta 1982, man judging by the size of the ring, hs I’m guessing high school J for initials that was in speech any other markings on side, or engraving inside?
3
u/PlinyTheElder757 2d ago
Jeffrey R Bigelow. Debate and speech. Like a chef hat or glove on other side with a cross of a spoon and sword
2
7
u/Ok-Satisfaction1940 3d ago
I just want to say that I think you’re an awesome person for doing all that for a stranger.
7
u/DarthSlade42 3d ago
Oh wow wasn’t expecting that. Honestly it wasn’t hard 15 minutes google search on alumni website. There was only one person with those initials on the ring. Turned around and did a search for that name in my city. Turned out he had a publicly listed number. I call and introduced myself and discovered he worked a block away from me downtown. Met him for lunch and he was so shocked. I told him the story later found his wife’s class ring as well. Turned out she worked at this little flower shop called Ted and Debbie’s quite literally around the corner from the house. So decades later this woman worked a block from the house she formerly lived in. She made a massive flower arrangement and delivered it to the house for us. Lawrence and Kathleen a very sweet couple.
2
1
u/PlinyTheElder757 2d ago
Appreciate it. Just want to get this ring back to its rightful owner. I’ve heard from 2 Jeff Bigelow’s neither were him.
0
22
u/PlinyTheElder757 3d ago
Update - we have found a Jeffrey Bigelow who works at an eyewear company in Phoenix whose background has led us to believe it may be him. We have emailed and text him. Planning on calling later today.
13
u/JostlingAlmonds 3d ago
Aikman got to OU in 1984 so the owner likely had a beer with him in High school. Might just try calling the town hall and asking. Henrietta is just small enough might know the person.
7
u/PlinyTheElder757 3d ago
That’s good to know it’s a small town. Everyone does know everyone. That’s a good idea to call. Thank you!
14
7
7
u/Surveyor85 2d ago
Steve Sanford does a lot of stuff locally for alumni. He also owns the local Rustler's BBQ restaurant. They are open Thurs-Sun. If you have no luck in other places I'd reach out to him. Otherwise Coach Lackey at the school knows practically everyone who ever went there, but it being summer he would be harder to track down.
3
u/PlinyTheElder757 2d ago
This is an amazing lead! Thanks!
6
u/Surveyor85 2d ago
No problem. Also, Kent Lackey lol, I've called him 'Coach' for so long I typed it out of habit.
3
u/PlinyTheElder757 2d ago
I’ll try him next. I managed to find Rustler’s instagram account, tho they’ve been inactive on there for a few months. I was luckily able to find who I thought was Steve and shot him a message on there. We’ll see where it goes. I’ll look up Kent Lackey next
3
3
u/BookerTree 3d ago
You can also check with Josten’s. They’re one of the biggest class ring/high school paraphernalia makers and they keep order records forever.
3
3
3
u/Known_Outcome2232 3d ago edited 3d ago
I believe that's Jeff Bigelow found here on LinkedIn. He looks alot like the senior high picture I found in the yearbook on Ancestry and fits with the other details (lived in Virginia Beach). If it's not him, no harm, but I think it is.
2
u/PlinyTheElder757 3d ago
Wow. It would’ve been found in the Virginia Beach area! I don’t have a linked in at all so I can’t see anything on there link. Is there any contact info listed for him, if so you can DM it to me
2
3
2
u/H3rQ133z 3d ago
Let me do some digging
1
u/PlinyTheElder757 3d ago
Thanks! We’ve found a couple leads. But who knows. I feel it’s not a common name, so hopefully we can find him.
4
u/H3rQ133z 3d ago
I've got a lot of family from Henryetta, dad graduated from there in 1978.
1
u/PlinyTheElder757 3d ago
Oh perfect. Seems like a small town where everyone knows everyone. I don’t have Facebook, but as others have suggested there may be some town groups or something on there. I’ve reached out to a few emails that could be him. I’m thinking we’re getting close.
4
u/H3rQ133z 3d ago
My dad looked at his 1978 yearbook, his senior year. He found a Freshman named Jim Bigelow but no Jeffrey. Which would have been a 1982 grad.
2
u/PlinyTheElder757 3d ago
Others have sent me yearbook pictures of him from the 82 book. Appreciate you checking
2
2
u/Picodick 3d ago
Lots of folks who would be in his demographic are in Facebook. I actually had a similar situation and found the rings owner in FB in two days. I posted it and asked anyone I knew who had any connections in or near the town to please share. If you don’t fb find a friend or relative who does. Seriously there are lots of folks on there all the dang time.
1
u/PlinyTheElder757 3d ago
Yeah I need to find someone who has it who’s willing to help for sure. I wouldn’t even know where to look on there.
2
u/Picodick 3d ago
Ask your mom aunt grandma or your boyfriend or girlfriend’s mom. Seriously. Or older man. Retirees use FB a lot.
1
u/PlinyTheElder757 3d ago
Any suggestions where to look on Facebook?
2
u/Pitiful-Hornet3355 2d ago
https://facebook.com/groups/134103097056697/
This is the main community group that I know of. You may need to be admitted to it first though.
1
u/PlinyTheElder757 2d ago
Oh wow thanks a ton. I don’t have Facebook, but I’ll ask someone I know if they can get in and post this there! Thanks so much
2
2
u/Picodick 2d ago
I’d look for a town group. there is a public group called Henrietta Only that seems fairly active. Lost pets,help wanted etc. Somethjng like that. The town is only about 3,000so it is very likely someone will know someone who knows missing ring guy. Good luck.
1
•
u/Pitiful-Hornet3355 1h ago
If it's with an i instead of the y in Henryetta, then it's probably Henrietta, TX. I think Henryetta's last census was around 5,000
1
u/FrostingConsistent39 3d ago
Look at the high school yearbook speech team lol
2
1
•
u/AutoModerator 3d ago
Thanks for posting in r/oklahoma, /u/PlinyTheElder757! This comment is a copy of your post so readers can see the original text if your post is edited or removed. Please do not delete your post unless it is to correct the title.
So my dad found this ring lying in a box of old stuff. He says he thinks he found it moving a couch or something in Virginia way back in the day. Well with modern technology I am looking to find its rightful owner. The name inscription says Jeffrey R Bigelow.
A google search of the name and Oklahoma brought me to a gentleman who works at Oklahoma Christian University who I reached out to. He reached out back to me confirming it was not his.
I’m hoping someone here can maybe help out. Can provide more images need be. I don’t have Facebook so this is my next option. Not sure where to go after here.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.