Local Sonic Restaurant Partners With College
(Press Release 04-16-07)
Hank Mooney, Office of Public Information

Wilburton Sonic Drive In Manager Danny Womack recently delivered Sonic Community First Value Cards to Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP for a Brighter Tomorrow Project Director Linda Morgan.

Womack partnered with Eastern last spring during the grant–writing phase to provide the cards as academic incentives to cohort students. Womack committed $60,000 worth of value cards over the six–year period of the project.

The Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP for a Brighter Tomorrow project is designed to meet the needs of low–income, underserved, and underrepresented students in 19 geographically isolated, rural schools located in five southeastern Oklahoma counties, within the Choctaw Nation. Eastern Oklahoma State received a $6.7 million federal GEAR UP grant and is in its first year of implementation.

“When I heard the ideals and objectives of the GEAR UP grant, I knew it would be a great program to associate with,” Womack said. “I always try to support the youth groups and organizations in the community whenever possible.”

Womack started working for Sonic in 1984 while still in high school. He attended Eastern Oklahoma State, receiving two associate degrees—Computer Science and Computers & Drafting. He joined the Oklahoma Army National Guard in 1984, and continues to serve. He attended Officer Candidate School and finished on the Commandant’s Top 10 List. He has been to Jamaica, Trinidad, and Germany on annual training, and served 385 days in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He spent 10 years as an officer in the military and stepped back as an NCO to retire. He is currently a Staff Sergeant in charge of a squad in the 120th Engineer Battalion.

“I am a firm believer in education,” explained Womack. “It is the only thing someone else cannot take away from you. They can take away your house, your car, your job—but not anything you learn.”

He began work for Barbara and Vernon Green at the Wilburton Sonic in 1989. In 1992, he became manager.

“I always encourage my employees to continue their education and even help prod them along when their grades start to fall,” Womack said. “Sometimes a parent calls and asks me to help them. I try to motivate the employees to bring up their grades. Education is so important.”

“This is a tremendous contribution,” said Morgan. “The GEAR UP grant is designed to encourage students to do their best. Everyone loves Sonic. This will be a great reward for students who demonstrate academic improvement.”

Caption info:  Wilburton Sonic Manager Danny Womack presents Eastern GEAR UP Project Director Linda Morgan with the first of many Sonic Community First cards.