Rachel Whitney, Curator,
Sapulpa Historical Museum
“Davis and Rule buy John Wilson Furniture Store,” was the headline from January 2, 1937. “Otis R. Rule, school board clerk, and Milford Davis, employee” had announced “the sale of [Wilson’s] store in the Clayton building.” The Davis-Rule Furniture Store began.
Their store opened during Jacqueline Rule’s eighth-grade year. Her parents moved to Sapulpa in 1923, and the name Rule became a household name.
Jacqueline, or Jackie, and her siblings went to Sapulpa Jr. and High School. One of her classmates, Hobart Robertson Jr., would become her husband after graduation during WWII. During her senior year in 1941, Jackie kept busy with a long list of clubs and duties, an attribute and passion she would keep with her for the next 82 years.
Jackie was involved in Twin Trio, Student Council, Yearbook, Thespians, Printers Club, Girl Reserves, Pepoose, and Home Economics. She also was named the yearbook editor. She also was an Office Assistant and named “Outstanding Girl.”
Both Hobart Jr. and Jackie left a senior last will gift. “We, Mary Ellen Harper, Jackie Rule, and Mary Stallard, will our printer’s devils to Mr. Davis’ next year’s assistant.” Additionally, “I, Hobart, will my luxuriant eyebrows to Dean Howard.”
Near the end of her senior year, an assembly was held to introduce the Band Queen. “Barbara Conway was introduced in the high school assembly as new band queen…Another feature of the assembly was the presentation of the first senior yearbook by Jackie Rule, editor, to Principal Carl Ransbarger, whom the yearbook had been dedicated.”
Her family was involved with the Methodist Church South. Jackie would often join the choir and Sunday School. By 1942, when the North and South Methodist Churches combined, she called this her home. She would continue being a member of the choir.
“A shower for a prospective bride: Jackie Rule, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. O.R. Rule, whose forthcoming marriage to Hobart Robertson Jr., U.S. Army Air Cadet, son of Mr. and Mrs. Hobart Robertson Sr.” Hobart Jr. and Jackie married in 1943. Jackie’s brother, Lewis, and her husband, Hobart Jr., ran the store after WWII. It was renamed Rule Furniture in 1950; it had been named Rule-Reel Furniture since 1939 after Davis resigned.
As stated earlier, Jackie would engage and participate in many organizations and groups. She was honored, proud, and devoted to her Methodist faith. She was a member of “Victory Sunday School class, Pearl Pickett Fellowship, United Methodist Women, Board of Trustees, Administrative Board, and Weekly Teller’s Committee.” She even joined the Crusaders Sunday School class, continuing to sing in the choir, and Esther Circle.
“Our two children, David and Debbie, were baptized in this church.” When the kids were young, Jackie would later become a Sunday School teacher. But Jackie would say her favorite Sunday School teacher was John Frank. “He made the Bible stories so alive and interesting.”
Another passion of Jackie and her family was education. “Jackie is very proud of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren…All of her children and grandchildren have received Master’s Degrees and more.”
Jackie was very involved with school. Since 1940, Jackie participated in dinners, events, and became counselor of the local organization for Girls State. “Girls State, like Boys State, is a week of government experience in which the various offices and phases of state, county and city government are set-up for operation by the girls attending. It is a program sponsored annually by the American Legion Auxiliary.”
“Mrs. Hobart Robertson Jr., represented Sapulpa at the first Girls State in 1940 at Norman and was appointed Girls State Counselor for 1949.” She participated in the organization, representing Sapulpa for many years.
By the late 1950s into early 1960, Jackie was involved with a Bowling League. Her team called themselves “the Housewives” and were bowling the competition over. “Hobbies are sewing and gardening, and travel trailer camping. With her husband, she joined a camper club and they enjoyed the recreation.”
One such club that she devoted many years to was the Thakatria Club. She participated in the organization for more than fifty years. She held many offices and years while in the club, as president and vice-president.
Jackie Robertson also volunteered and was on the Board for the Sapulpa Historical Society. She volunteered, working on displays, tours, and events from the 1990s to 2011. She volunteered alongside Doris and Dick Yocham, Jim Hubbard, Louise Briggs, Ken Blackburn, and many, many others.
Jackie and Hobart Jr. never forgot where it all began – the Class of 1941. The Robertsons were often involved with the planning and participating in the class reunions. “The Sapulpa High School Class of 1941 met for their regular scheduled meeting at the home of Jackie Robertson for a picnic. Tables were set up on the lawn and on the patio.”
If being involved with these many organizations and events weren’t enough, Jackie Robertson also had a successful career. She worked for Lon T. Jackson’s Insurance from 1953 until retirement in 1989. “Jackie is a specialist in the field of Fire and Homeowners insurance, and works constantly with the area customers as she assists with updating of insurance coverages and other items dealing with fire and homeowners insurance.”
“Jackie Robertson has become the first Sapulpan to receive the designation of Certified Professional Insurance Women (CPIW)” in 1977. The following year, “Mrs Hobart Robertson Jr. was installed president of the Insurance Women of Tulsa” in June 1978.
Jackie has been involved with the Sapulpa history, community, and lives, and still continues to leave her mark on the hearts of many.
This week in Sapulpa history, on April 19, Jackie Robertson turns 100.
(Sapulpa Herald, May 9, 1941, February 22, 1943, April 24, 1949, December 24, 1956, February 16, 1959, August 13, 1959, January 22, 1961, December 25, 1969, August 7, 1970, May 18, 1971, April 4, 1976, November 28, 1977, June 11, 1978, March 5, 1980, November 22, 1983, June 24, 1992, August 22, 1993, June 6, 1994; United Methodist Church Archives)
