Inez Haynes

Colonel Inez Haynes was born June 3, 1909, at Paint Rock, TX. Colonel Haynes served as Chief, Army Nurse Corps, Office of the Surgeon General, Department of the Army during the period October 1, 1955 to August 31, 1959. She was in the nursing profession for 60 years. During her Army service, she served in two theaters of war during World War II and directed nursing operations in Occupied Japan. She served as director of nursing at several military hospitals and was Supervisor, Operating Room at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. During her term of office, major contributions were made in the area of improved nursing care and more effective utilization of nursing personnel.

Through leadership and continued study of nursing problems, Col. Haynes was instrumental in developing formal educational programs to further improve the capabilities and nursing knowledge of both professional and ancillary personnel. After retiring from the military, Col. Haynes served as professor and assistant professor at the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma, respectively. While at OU, she led the effort to secure state and federal funding to construct the current building for the School of Nursing.

Some of the awards received by Col. Haynes included the Legion of Merit, US Army; University of Minnesota, Outstanding Achievement Award; National League of Nursing, Recognition and Achievement Award; and Oklahoma Nurses Association, Honorary Recognition and Achievement Award. In 1986 Col. Haynes was selected as a Distinguished Member of the Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Regiment.

She moved to El Reno in 1972 and died May 29, 1997, at Park View Hospital. In 1999, she was inducted posthumously into Who's Who Among Oklahoma Military Men and Women, an event sponsored by the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame.