Dorothy (Glade) Owens  
Dorothy Jeanne (Glade) Owens Middeleton
Married to Douglas Owens for 17 years.
Children: Ren?e Middleton, 45 Cheyenne, WY; Ryan Middleton, deceased. Two Great Grandchildren. (Was divorced from Ralph Middleton in 1982.)
WORK: I taught English at the North Platte High School. After moving to Cheyenne in 1964, I taught English part time at the Air Force Base. In 1969 I got the job as librarian at East High School and remained there until I retired in 2000.
INTERESTS: I have always been a voracious reader, and being retired has given me time to consume more books. I belong to a book club that I really enjoy as it introduces me to books I might otherwise have missed. I knit and do needlepoint, but my husband and I get our exercise walking around a local park nearly every day; even when it is cold and windy. We also work out at a gym several days a week. Since I never was much into athletics, this is a really new hobby for me. We also travel a lot. Some of our trips are short Corvette club rallies, but we have taken several Elderhostel trips and University of Nebraska alumni trips as well as regular tourist trips. I have been from Saudi Arabia to Iceland to New Zealand and lots of places in between.
Lucky Break: The best lucky break I had was getting the position of librarian at East High School. I was there for 31 years and I can honestly say I loved every day of it. I received my Master of Arts in Library Science degree from Denver University in 1972. Being a librarian led to most of my honors and recognition. I was the President of the Wyoming Library Association in 1992 and of the Mountain Plains Library Association in 1982. I received the Wyoming Library Association's Distinguished Service Award in 1999. I was a judge for the American Book Awards in 1982 and an editor for the H. W. Wilson High School Library Catalog from about 1975 to 1982. I was and am a member of Delta Kappa Gamma (women teachers honorary) and have been president of my local chapter twice. In 1987, I received their International Golden Gift Award which enabled me to attend the convention of the International Association of School Librarians in Iceland. I am a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and have been the Regent (president) of the local chapter.
World Events: The introduction of computers into the library was the most significant change in how I worked. Computers changed nearly everything about my work. Putting my high school library's catalog online with the state-wide system was exhilarating.
CHANGES: Somehow I don't feel a bit different than I did in high school. I enjoyed learning then, and I still do. I do miss not living in Lincoln so I could keep up with old friends better, but email is great. My popular music preferences stopped in the 50's and I still like to listen to the "oldies".
REFLECTIONS: Fortunately for me, I still think the world is fascinating and a good place. I subscribe to my mother's philosophy that you are about as happy as you make up your mind to be. I think old friends are great and new ones interesting. I am working hard to live for as long as I am alive.