Oliver Dale Horton

Oliver “Dale” Horton, a Christian believer, competitive cattle producer, top notch agriculture education teacher, devoted husband, inspiring father, and oh so loving grandfather and great grandfather passed on September 21, 2020 at the age of 73.

Dale would gain his love for sports, agriculture and enjoying the simple things of life as he was born December 5, 1946 to Oliver and Genevieve Horton in McAlester, Oklahoma. Dale was the middle child and his family included survivor sister Anna Sue Perry, Ft. Gibson and deceased brother James “DD” Horton of Norman. Dale’s formative years were spent in Crowder, Oklahoma where he loved playing baseball and enjoyed the simple things of eating chocolate gravy and biscuits, hunting, working livestock or hanging with the cousins and collecting baseball cards.

Dale graduated from Norman High School in 1964 and Oklahoma State University in 1970 with an agriculture education degree. He returned to Norman with his wife Jan “Goertzen” Horton and he resided in Norman for the rest of his life and where he raised his two kids while starting his lifelong career of being an agriculture education teacher and raising his prized Chester White pigs.

Dale started teaching agriculture education at Norman High School in 1976. In 1979, he started teaching at Noble Public Schools and remained an agriculture educator for a span of 28 years. Dale would have the first Female Oklahoma FFA President, two state FFA Sweethearts, five State FFA Officers, two national FFA officers, a national FFA Public speaking winner and numerous state FFA and American State FFA Degree Recipients. His leadership and training allowed him to mentor 26 student agriculture education teachers. Dale’s achievements led him to serve as the President of the State Oklahoma Association of Agriculture Education Association (OAETA) in 1983 and in 2005 Dale received a national award the NAAE or National Association Agricultural Education Region II Mentor Teacher Award. In addition, Dale had been inducted into the Oklahoma Agriculture Education Teacher Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Noble Public Schools Hall of Fame Teacher of Year in 2015.

Since his retirement Dale has enjoyed raising livestock on the family farm, watching and chasing his grandkids from livestock shows, sporting events, college events and weddings. Spending time with his church family at Crosspointe of Norman serving at the church food pantry and enjoying his Sunday school class and many fellowships. Dale has been active member in the Cleveland County Cattleman’s Association and served on the board of the Cleveland County NRCS Conservation District for several years. His greatest legacy is his Christian purpose to serve others and be the best and share your talents with others. He has richly blessed many and this can be seen in the success and happiness of those students, peers, friends and family that he loved and cherished for the past fifty years.

Dale is survived by wife Jan Horton, Norman for 53 years; sister; Anna Sue Perry, Ft. Gibson, OK daughter; Jona Kay Horton, Squires and husband Mark Squires, Kingfisher; Son: Dusty Dale Horton, Fiance’ Jenni Finney, Norman; Grandkids Maverick Russel Dale Squires and wife, McKenzie Squires, great grandson Sterling Loren Squires, Dover, OK; Gatlin Cy Squires and Kelsee Squires, Edmond; Dustin Blaine Horton, Norman and Jentry Janelle Squires, Butler, KS and numerous cousins, nephews and nieces.