Woman Still Making a Difference 18 Years After Death

By Melissa Maynarich, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A woman who left so much to beautify the city she loved is still making a difference in the community 18 years after her death.

Margaret Annis Boys passed away in 1991, but she left much of her estate behind to beautify Oklahoma City.

The Will Rogers Park Arboretum located southeast of Portland and Northwest 36th has been renamed the Margaret Annis Boys Arboretum. The 10-acre sanctuary of trees is for all Oklahoman's to enjoy and to acknowledge the widespread impact of her beautification grants around the community.

"If you are thinking about planting trees in your yard, and you want to see what a particular oak tree looks like, or what it will look like in 20 or 30 years, this is a great place to come and look," Nancy Anthony, Oklahoma City Community Foundation.

Perle Mesta Park has been improved with money from the Margaret Annis Boys Trust along with the Putnam Heights Historical Preservation Area. Even the city's dog parks have been made more beautiful because of Margaret Annis.

Boys was a teacher by trade, but loved the outdoors. She believed nature plays a role in learning.

"One time, and I think it was in the early 60s, there wasn't money to mow the lawn, and she said, 'oh no. The direct reflection on how the kids learn will be the environment within.' And they said she went out to the neighborhood and recruited like 30 people to come in and mow the lawn before the kids came back," said Brian Dougherty, Oklahoma City Community Foundation.

Since her death, $1.5 million has been awarded to neighborhoods, schools, nonprofits and local governments through the Oklahoma City Community Foundation. And the seeds that money has planted will continue to make a difference in the community for years to come.

"We're at I think 132 different schools right now. The amount of impact we've done on cooling playgrounds, on the east and west sides of the building, the parking lot, has been substantial. At the same time, it's aesthetic, and people like that," Dougherty said.

The 1.5 million dollars initially contributed by Boys, has grown to $3 million through investments over the years.