Ross and Barbara Staggs celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009. They were married Aug. 29, 1959, in First Baptist Church by the Rev. Felix Wagner.

Ross and Barbara met while in their junior year at Muskogee Central High School. Ross was in Muskogee General Hospital following an automobile accident. His English teacher was afraid he would not return to school before the end of the year and asked Barbara to go to the hospital to tutor him. Barbara helped him and he passed. During the summer, after he had been released from the hospital, he felt obligated to ask her out to show his appreciation. Two years later, they were married.

They have two sons, William Derrick (Rick) Staggs and wife Lezlie who live in Reno, N.V., and Mathew Hardin Staggs and wife Tanya of Muskogee. They also have one granddaughter, Jessica, also in Reno. Ross was in the family business, Duff Plumbing and Heating, for more than 40 years. Barbara was a teacher and principal in Muskogee Public School for 22 years, superintendent of Tahlequah Public Schools for three years, and House District 14 Representative for 12 years.

They are active in the First Baptist Church where Ross is a deacon and Barbara is a Bible study teacher. They are both graduates of Northeastern State University. Barbara also has two other degrees from the University of Tulsa.

They love being retired and enjoy traveling in their motor home. Ross “plays” with steam engines and anything else mechanical. He is on the Muskogee Fair Board, while Barbara is a member of several boards and organizations and volunteers in as many projects as she can fit into her schedule.