sweetheart and [we] have been
married 46 years, raised three beau-
tiful daughters who are amazing
young women. We have a perfectly
beautiful grand daughter who I adore.
I have lived 66 years with very few
regrets. I guess that’s kind of cool.
Gail Wirtanen
Gail works at Branded
Corporate Services and is
the current president of the
Weatherford Noon Lion’s Club
GW: I was a buyer for an Ohio-based
department store chain, maybe that
is something they wouldn’t have
guessed. Aside from that I think my
life is pretty much of an open book
and people know most everything
about me.
PCT: What would you most like to be
remembered for?
GW: I would like to be remembered
as an honest, caring person who
helped others whenever possible.
PCT: If you had to do another job
than what you’re doing, what would
you do?
GW: If I wasn’t in some form of
sales, I think I would enjoy working
with kids. Not as a teacher, but as a
mentor.
PCT: What is something people don’t
know about you?
PCT: What’s the best piece of advice
you would give?
GW: My advice is be honest, caring
and live each day to the fullest,
making sure you tell those you love
how much they mean to you.
PCT: What is the coolest thing you
feel you have done in your life?
GW: It sounds corny, but the coolest
thing I have done is raise my daugh-
ters, Sandy and Susie. It has been a
wonderful experience seeing them
develop into the caring, intelligent,
confident, self-reliant women they
are today. I could not be more proud
of them.
PCT: What is your favorite novel?
NR: I don’t read much but if I had to
go back from my high school days, it
would be The Great Gatsby.
PCT: What do you do to decompress?
NR: Dispatch is a tough job, but on
a daily basis the way I decompress
is to talk to my better half about the
many troubles of the day, massages,
and my all-time favorite is Winstar.
PCT: What is something people don’t
know about you?
NR: I have a huge heart and a big
pushover, but don’t tell anyone that.
PCT: What would you most like to be
remembered for?
NR: I would like for people to say
that although I was a spitfire, I would
give anyone the shirt off my back,
help anyone, and that I always got
the job done.
PCT: What’s your favorite way to pay
it forward?
NR: I like to secretly buy people’s
meals in restaurants, buy the person’s
coffee behind me in line, or surprise
PCT: What do you do to decompress?
GW: When I need to decompress,
I find it relaxing to walk my lab,
Maggie. Playing with my dog always
makes me smile.
PCT: What is your definition of the
best day every?
GW: My best day ever would be a
game day with my daughters. Just
hours of sitting around talking and
laughing.
Parker County Today: How did you
get into your current occupation?
NR: I needed a job and thought it
would be fun so I applied at Parker
County Sheriff’s Department without
an ounce of experience.
PCT: What is your favorite novel?
GW: I love all of the Tami Hoag
novels.
Nikki is a telecommunications
officer with the Weatherford
Police Department
PCT: What’s your favorite way to pay
it forward?
GW: I pay it forward by serving
others and the community. It may
be serving on the WISD Board of
Trustees or just helping an elderly
person get groceries in their car.
PCT: If you could have lunch with
anyone, who would it be?
GW: I would like to have lunch with
one of the founding fathers. What a
conversation that would be!
Parker County Today: How did you
get into your occupation?
GW: After my divorce, I was looking
for something and Joy Eaton, owner
of Branded Corporate Services, gave
me the opportunity to work in the
promotional product industry. It was
perfect, and allowed me to utilize my
business marketing degree from Ohio
State University.
Nikki Richards
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