NSUOCO Hosts Dedication For Callie and Clyde Stinson Low Vision Reh...

NSUOCO Hosts Dedication For Callie and Clyde Stinson Low Vision Rehabilitation Room

Dr. David Lewerenz, assistant professor of Optometry, shows the Callie and Clyde Stinson Low Vision Rehabilitation Room to Jimmy Nix and Patsi Nix Smith of the Nix Foundation during a dedication ceremony held Thursday, March 26.

TAHLEQUAH The Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry held a dedication ceremony for the Callie and Clyde Stinson Low Vision Rehabilitation Room on Thursday, March 26.

Through her many special gifts and talents, Callie has been a great mentor to many people, but especially to people with vision problems, said Jerry Cook, NSU director of Community Relations. This is an amazing day for our optometry students, who will learn in the facility, and for the hundreds and hundreds of patients this facility will help.

Funding for the room was provided by Patsi Nix Smith and her nephew, Jimmy Nix, through the Nix Foundation. The Nix Foundation is a private foundation established in 2001 as a philanthropic, grant making organization. It is governed by an Advisory Board that sets policy and is responsible for the review of grants.

The Nix family chose to name the room after Patsis Aunt Callie and Uncle Clyde. Callie was blinded at birth when the solution used to wash her eyes as a newborn was too strong. Callies twin sister, Mildred, was nearly blinded by the same solution. Clyde lost most of his vision as a young adult.

After graduating from the Oklahoma School for the Blind in 1930, Callie dedicated much her time to public service, being heavily involved in local and state politics and her church. Clyde spent his career as a math teacher and entrepreneur, owning several businesses.

We really appreciate being here today and being part of this low vision clinic, said Nix.

Smith said that Callie had touched everyone in the room during her life, especially the student optometrists who will be learning in the new facility.

I try to think of it from Callies point of view, said Smith. Don't act like people with vision problems cant see she saw everything.

The donation from the Nix Foundation provided for renovation of the room, along with equipment to test distance visual acuity, near vision and reading, color vision, contrast vision, childrens eye site, visual potential and central blind spots, as well as refraction aids, filters to reduce glare, telescopic sets and magnification devices.

The Nix Foundation made a second donation during the dedication ceremony to purchase more equipment for the room.

We want to thank the Nix Foundation for their generosity, said Dr. Lynn Cyert, interim dean of NSUOCO. We have an aging population in the United State and many retired people who are coming to this area that can benefit from the services this will provide.

3/27/2009

Published: 2009-03-27 00:00:00