ABBY TARR and GLENN C. SHAW

You would have to blink twice to believe it.

Because to have seen them on the street, you would never have guessed that they could have given more than $160,000 in the last five years to make the Drumright area a better place to live.

She was about five feet tall, weighed maybe 90 pounds. He was average size, a little paunchy, liked a good beer and a lively greeting when he saw you.

They were brother and sister, Abby Tarr and Glenn C. Shaw, who lived in a wisp of a house southeast of Shamrock.

Abby's appearance deceived her capabilities. Any businessman who knew her, recognized her keen mind and perception for acquiring property and land.

She was close with her money, hoarded it in fact, to buy land at tax sales. In her lifetime she acquired more than 1100 acres, all southeast of Shamrock.

By the 1970's neither Abby or Glenn had any family left. Her husband had died and she had no children. Glenn lost his wife and son as well. Now they had only each other and a passel of second cousins. Both of them were in their 70's.

They had been in Doyle Watson's law office of Watson and Watson often in the past several years. Then in 1971 Abby asked Watson to draw up a will leaving everything she owned to her brother. In 1972 Glenn made the same request, to leave everything to Abby, if she survived him.

Glenn's request for a will was unfamiliar. He didn't know what he wanted to do with his estate, but he certainly knew what he didn't want to happen.

"If Abby's not alive," Glenn told Watson firmly, "I don't want any relatives to get it. And make sure of that!"

Watson then suggested that he consider a foundation, establishing a charitable trust to honor both of them and bear their names.

That sounded so good to Glenn he said, "Fix 'er up!"

Abby died July 1, 1974. Glenn inherited her entire estate and became its executor. In the middle of the probate, Glenn died on March 17, 1975.

The Abby Tarr probate was completed with no problems. But trouble started when Glenn's probate began. About 25 second cousins showed up in court with their attorneys to try to prove their case.

Watson, whom Glenn had named as executor, was now representing Glenn's estate. Because of possible conflict of interest, Watson declined to serve as executor, so the court appointed Walter Jones, a Bristow attorney, as executor.

Through a maze of complicated legal actions, clear to the Supreme Court, finally in 1980, five and one half years after Glenn's death, a final court order declared the estate ready for distribution. All assets were ordered distributed to the Abby Tarr - Glenn C. Shaw Foundation and this action of the trial court was affirmed by the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

At this time land was selling for a relatively high price. Watson realized the 1100 acres of black jacks and rocks needed to be converted to cash to realize maximum income on the invested monies.

The land was advertised for sale to the highest and best bidder. Serveral bid for it. The Foundation consummated the sale, retaining all minerals, selling only the surface rights. Oil wells had been drilled previously and the Foundation continues to receive small oil run checks.

To receive grants from the Abby Tarr - Glenn C. Shaw Foundation, beneficiaries must be a governmental sub-division, charitable or tax exempt organization in and around Drumright and western Creek County. No individual is eligible to participate.

This private foundation can also accept gifts and contributions to add to its assets, all of which are tax deductible.

Chief executive officer is Doyle Watson. Ruby Hood is the only family member who serves the Foundation.

The largest benefactor has been the Drumright Memorial Hospital, which has received some $40,000. The Foundation has established a permanent $20,000 Scholarship Fund at Central Vo-Tech, the interest income from which helps students significantly each year in their training to earn a better living.

Others having benefited are the cities of Drumright and Shamrock, the Drumright Community Historical Society, most all churches in Drumright, Oilton, Olive and Shamrock.

Glenn was never a Boy Scout, but his interest in scouting has prompted a gift of more than $2500 to that program.

The diversified list includes cemetery associations, the Drumright American Legion baseball program and other miscellaneous charities.

This trust has become a bonanza for many, whose lives were hardly, if ever, touched by these two individuals who made it all possible.

Editor's Note: Ms. Coffield is an Oklahoma writer and coordinator of the Drumright Ambassadors.