TAHLEQUAH Many people get their first taste of helping others through church membership, starting by visiting nursing homes as children, or as teens or adults helping with youth groups and on mission trips.

Larry Houghtons first experience as a volunteer was in the 1990s at Cookson United Methodist Church.

Besides church activities and being a steward with the church, we had a construction mission trip in 2000 that went to Juaurez, Mexico, to work two weeks building a medical clinic with the local Methodist organization, Houghton said. That is what really sparked my interests in the whole concept of giving back.

After that, he rarely went on a vacation just to go somewhere.

Its when you experience working in countries in the local towns with people less fortunate that you realize the true understanding of family and the simplicity of life at its most basic, Houghton said. The spirituality and passionate concept of giving is what makes me tick. Unfortunately, I didnt begin to understand this until early in my 30s, when I began to grow up but thats a whole other story.

A transplant from Colorado, Houghton has been blessed with a rewarding career in the Oklahoma Department of Corrections for 23 years, retiring in 2009. He grew up in Englewood, Colo., outside of Denver, with the beautiful Rocky Mountains and cold, clear streams, enjoying camping and fishing.

I met my wife, Susan, in 1979 and moved with two children to Sand Springs in 1982, where she could be closer to her aunt, he said.

On a road trip one weekend with the family, he fell in love with the Lake Tenkiller area, and especially the Cherokee Courthouse Square in downtown Tahlequah.

I think we all have similar court squares in our own home towns that remind us of the good old days. I never would have thought Oklahoma had such beautiful landscape and kind-hearted people, along with the Illinois River and Lake Tenkiller in Green Country, he said.

He moved from Sand Springs in 1985 to live near the lake.

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Houghton likes spirituality, passion of giving