The Sesame Club meet Oct. 30 at the Pine Bluff Country Club to continue with the second program in the club’s present study “Who Are We” Past and Present.
Club member Bonnie McClure presented the program about her career as a U.S. Naval officer. McClure entered the Navy after high school because her dad felt that he could not afford three children in college at the same time and her brothers’ educations were more important, according to a press release.
In 1962, McClure enlisted, completed nurse’s training and was promoted to ensign in 1963 in the nurse candidate program. Her first duty station was the Naval Hospital in Pensacola, Fla.
“She remained there for two years, enjoying an independent young adult life, having her own apartment and new car. During that time, she was promoted to lieutenant junior grade,” according to the release.
In 1965, McClure returned home and was an OB-GYN supervisor at Vanderbilt Hospital. After three years, she was back in the Navy, spent two years in Taipei, Taiwan, then back stateside to Bethesda Naval Hospital and the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.
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In 1974, she returned to Taipei where she was promoted to commander. Later, she earned her master’s degree in nursing from the University of West Florida.
After several years at the Naval Hospital in Charleston, S.C., she returned to Pensacola where she retired in October 1992.
“Whereever Bonnie has lived, she has become involved in church and civic activities and has been a vital part of her community,” according to the release.
Hostesses for the meeting were Pat Reese, Alice McCallum, Jane Nixon and Anne Robinson.