Tulsan Finds Joy In Stained Glass Projects

By Rick Wells, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Retirement means many things to many people.   For some, it's golf or maybe travel.  Some folks just want to sit.  For Loyd Garrison, retirement has meant dozens, maybe hundreds of projects in stained glass.

There are examples of Loyd Garrison's stained glass craftsmanship from the front door, throughout the entire house.

"This is a lamp I made a long time ago.  I've made over 20 lamps," said Loyd Garrison.

There is one which he says has almost 1,800 pieces of glass in it.  Some of the pieces are tiny.

"People said, ‘how did you do it?' I said well I learned some new words I don't care to use today," said Loyd Garrison.

It's not just lamps, although there are a lot of them.  Everywhere you look in his home there is something:  a duck on a pond, flowers, Christmas trees of all types.

"Life is too short to waste, and I try to accomplish something every day," said Loyd Garrison.

One of Garrison's plaques won best of show at the Tulsa State Fair this past year.  He has a bulletin board full of ribbons he's won for pieces he's done.

"My wife told me I've got to stop taking stuff to the fair because I won't have any place to put the ribbons," said Loyd Garrison.

He has projects laid out yet to finish and others in the planning stages.

"You can use your mind and your hands. It's just wonderful that I do enjoy it," said Loyd Garrison.

Loyd is also quite an athlete he has won more than 40 medals participating in Senior Olympics events, particularly basketball.