Dr. Peggy Dumas Dyer grew up in Stigler in the home Louis (known as “Dumas”) and Mildred Dumas built together right off main street. It was her mom who had the family’s entrepreneurial spirit. She built Stigler’s first soft-service ice cream franchise business, Dairy Mart. A few years later the name was changed to Dairy Kup. After much success, Mildred added onto the building to create Don’s Resta
urant. Later “Dumas” and Mildred built Don’s Motel across the street from Don’s Restaurant. Starting at a young age, Peggy worked side-by-side with Mildred in the businesses and helped her dad at the motel. As a member of Stigler High School Class of 1966, Peggy went to Northeastern State followed by Oklahoma State University to earn a doctorate degree. She became a Professor at Oral Roberts University. There she became the first Coordinator of Women’s Athletics, which oversaw four sports. She was the first ORU Women’s Head Basketball Coach, ever. It was these leadership activities that led to her 2018 induction into Northeastern State University’s Hall of Fame to receive the prestigious Spirit of Excellence Award. While at ORU, Peggy and her mother built the Panther Carwash in Stigler. In Tulsa, Peggy formed a business that focused on children’s sports activities --- swimming, basketball and gymnastics. The entrepreneurial spirit was alive and well. Peggy married her long-time friend, Dixon Lee Dyer Jr., a member of the Choctaw Nation. Two daughters were raised during their 27 years of marriage. (Sadly, he passed away in 2013 and was laid to rest in Stigler cemetery). After 18 years at ORU, Dr. Dyer took a job with Tulsa Community College (TCC) and became Provost at the new West Campus where she had another unique experience. She, along with college and campus teams, built the new campus from the ground up. Provost Dyer was the leader of the campus’s academic and campus operations. While there, she became highly invested in several community organizations including Sand Springs Chamber, Salvation Army, and Rotary Club where she served in various offices, including President. From countless hours of volunteer service, she embodied the Rotary motto: “Service Above Self.”
After retirement from TCC, Peggy began working full-time in the family property company that leases both residential and commercial property. A few years ago, she began researching Family Entertainment Centers (FEC). She wrote a business plan and had a schematic drawing completed. COVID arrived and plans were put to a halt. Fast forward to November 2024, the lease expired on The West End. She and her youngest daughter decided to go forward with a small FEC, Country Jack Food & Fun, in Stigler, and we hope the locals love it.
