Don Quinton, 84, has lived in Vian just about his entire life.
Born in a log cabin not far from town, Quinton grew up with his mother and nine siblings, which included five brothers and four sisters.
“We didn’t have a lot, but we didn’t care,” he said, talking about his large family.
“My mom’s name was Rachel Quinton, she did outstanding work for the Cherokee Nation,’” he said. “And, I remember all the help she gave to the Nation. My mom was not only a council member, but also was an advocate for the tribe.”
As a child, he said and his siblings would often make their own toys out of wood, and if they weren’t doing that, they’d go outside and play. Some of their outside activities consisted of playing tag, hide and seek, climbing on and across trees, and even swinging on vines.
“We were like little monkeys,” Quinton said.
While in high school, he played football for the Vian High School Wolverines. After obtaining his high school diploma, Quinton went to college in Arkansas and later obtained both his bachelor and associate degrees. He said he even did some work for the Cherokee Nation himself, while in college.
“I was a spokesperson for the tribe, often going on television or radio shows,” he said.
He would also talk to people who were not considered a part of the tribe, but had ancestral ties to it. He would aid in getting them signed into the tribe, and many today credit Quinton, stating it was because of him that many people are able to proudly call themselves members of the Cherokee Nation.
But when you ask Quinton about his favorite hobbies, his face lights up when he starts talking about tennis.
Quinton said he started playing tennis when he was stationed in the U.S. Air Force.
“I had been stationed out of state, and me and the other guys had seen these rackets,” he remembers. “We began to hit the ball back and forth, and the rest is history.”
Quinton played tennis for many years, even playing in tournaments for the North America Indian Tennis Association. He said he stopped playing in 1997, due to a knee injury.
“But I still love the sport,” he said, with a fond smile.
Quinton has also worked many occupations. He said his first job was working in a hayfield and he worked as a technician while in the Air Force. After his time in the military, he worked in Tulsa, in Vietnam as a civilian, at Holly Carburetor, and finally at Georgia Pacific in Muskogee, before retiring.
While in Vietnam, Quinton said he and others would work on helicopters, communication systems, test flying, and more.
However, it was while working at Georgia Pacific that Quinton said he was diagnosed with colon cancer, and decided it was time to retire after finishing his chemotherapy treatments. He said he was able to beat the cancer, and now he is able to share his story.
Quinton is married to Kathy Quinton and said he has lived a life rich with adventure, love and unforgettable memories. His experiences stretch far beyond what words alone can fully capture. In truth, 500 words can only begin to scratch the surface of a story as remarkable as his.
