Spencer remembered for community service, education

The community is remembering Sallisaw businessman Buddy Spencer, who not only contributed richly to his community, but gave his life to education and making the world a better place.

Spencer, 91, died on Friday, according to family members.

Spencer graduated from Cameron High School in 1949 and went on to attend Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant for four years on a basketball scholarship. He was a two-time honorable mention all-conference player, and also served as president of the student body.

He graduated from Southeastern in 1953 with a bachelor of science in history education. His wife, Doris, is also a Southeastern graduate.

Spencer was honored by his alma matter as a Distinguished Alumnus in 1982. He became president of the Oklahoma State School Board Association in 1981-82, which now presents the Buddy Spencer Leadership Award in Oklahoma City each year.

Following graduation, he joined the Marine Corps, serving two and half years during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged in 1956 at the rank of captain.

After his military service, he entered the automobile business, first working for Chevrolet and then as an automobile dealer, starting with his first dealership in Durant, Buddy Spencer Ford.

According to his biography, he owned and operated 12 dealerships in three states before moving to Sallisaw in 1995, where his family owns and operates Blue Ribbon Auto Group. The Spencer family has been retailing automobiles for 55 years and there are now two dealerships with 50 employees.

Spencer has served as president of the Chamber of Commerce in both Durant and Sallisaw, is a recipient of the Chamber Member of the Year and also the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Sallisaw Chamber. He was on the board of directors for the Sallisaw Chamber, as well as the current president of the Sallisaw Improvement Corporation.

The chairman of the Committee for Excellence in Sallisaw, where scholarship money is raised for graduating Sequoyah County seniors, under Spencer’s leadership the committee raised over $750,000.

He was presented the Key to the City of Sallisaw and given his own namesake street in the Sallisaw Industrial Park for his economic, educational and civic contributions. South Buddy Spencer Avenue (East 1082 Road) is located east of Carl Albert State College.

Spencer’s commitment to higher education continues at Carl Albert State College, where he and President Joe White were the driving forces for establishing a new branch campus in Sallisaw.

He and Doris were inducted into the Carl Albert State College Hall of Fame in 2008-09 for their many contributions, and the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education honored him with their Business Partnership Excellence Award in 2014 for his work with the college.

The Oklahoma Higher Education Heritage Society welcomed Spencer into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame in 2022, where he received a special merit award.

“It is difficult to describe such a compassionate, yet very effective person like Buddy Spencer. What a treasure he was to this community,” Gary Schaefer, of Sallisaw, said. “He improved job opportunities by his dedicated efforts as chairman of Sallisaw Improvement Corporation. He was tirelessly working to bring in and expand jobs in the county.”Schaefer said Spencer was very compassionate to all he met, regardless of what you did in life.

“He was soft spoken but effective in every aspect of his life,” he said. “His work with Carl Albert State College, the Sallisaw Committee for Excellence, concurrent enrollment for county high schools-education was most important to Buddy because he knew it would bring a better paying job and more opportunities.”

“He was persistent and consistent. When he started on a project he worked on it every day, calling and contacting the right people to get the end result. Some projects took longer than others but he always completed the task. I never saw him give up on a program that would help this community,” he remembered.

Schaefer said one day, he and Buddy were at the Blue Ribbon dealership in the service waiting area when a young man introduced himself to Spencer and shook his hand.

“The young man told him that he probably didn’t remember him, but he encouraged him to go back to school and to enroll at Carl Albert, at least part time,” he said.

The young man went on to complete his associates degree and then attended and graduated from Northeastern State University, and now has a great job.

“He just wanted to thank Buddy for the encouragement,” he said. “Buddy smiled and thanked the young man. That was pay day for Buddy. He said these are the kind of stories we work for every day.”

Schaefer said he will remember his friend as a remarkable person who never met a stranger, was always positive and never negative, and always tried to find a solution to a problem.

“I learned something every time I was with him. His style of negotiation and presentation was always positive, and he always found a way to make it work where both sides felt like winners.

“This is a devastating loss for this community. We will miss him. His efforts and dedication to jobs and education will continue to pay dividends for this community for many years to come,” he said.

“It’s a sad day to lose a giant of a man. His love and support for the community was unmatched. I know his family received the same from him,” former Sallisaw mayor and city councilor Shannon Vann, said.

“I would talk (mostly listen) with Buddy on a regular basis throughout my time on the city council and chamber board. He was a wealth of knowledge about our state and businesses. He was patient with my questions and always encouraging in our work together,” Vann said.

“He believed in getting things done to make the community better. Ideas and plans were hatched on his giant yellow notepad, always with steps to actually get things accomplished. Wherever he went, he left it much better…I’m sure the first words he heard after leaving this earth were “well done, my good and faithful servant.” Thank you Buddy for your service to our country, our state and our community,” Vann said.

“Buddy played a key role in many projects in our community and region. His dedication to Carl Albert State College was such a positive influence to so many aspiring to gain a degree. Whether it was standing strong with veterans or finding ways to spring new life with economic development opportunities, Mr. Spencer left his mark in my life and many others,” Cherokee Nation Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner said. “He was a man of his word and never wavered when it came time to put those words into action.”

Funeral services are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 5, at Immanuel Baptist Church in Sallisaw, under the direction of Agent Mallory-Martin Funeral Home of Sallisaw.