Mayor John Criner

John Criner graduated in January, 1965 from the University of Tulsa with a BS/BA degree, focusing on management. He also has minors in accounting and economics. He accomplished these goals after only 3 ½ years at the University.

After graduating, John worked for a Woolworth store as an assistant manager in Tulsa. His career took him to Austin, Texas and New Orleans, Louisiana as an assistant manager for the Woolworth stores in those cities. He was then transferred to Jackson, Mississippi as a specialized assistant manager for the Woolworth stores there. Mr. Criner rose to the position of Division 2 manager with the Woolco Company and was transferred back to New Orleans, Louisiana, after which he was transferred to Oklahoma City, OK as a Division 1 manager with the same company. He climbed the ladder once again and became an assistant general manager in Tulsa, Oklahoma, moving on to Enid in 1973 to manage the Woolco Department store, and then to open the eighth Hobby Lobby store in the nation.

John Criner has been a member of the Enid A.M. Ambucs for the past 30 years with a perfect attendance record at the meetings. He has been an active member of the North Garland Church of Christ since 1988. He has been a chairman of the Retail Trade Committee with the Chamber of Commerce twice in the past.

John comes from a family of five brothers and sisters, has been married to his wife Cheryl for 44 years and has a son, J.R. Criner, in Houston, Texas.

His son, J.R., is a sales manager for the Planet, a computer storage facility in Houston. The Criners have 2 grandchildren: Allison and Austin and 2 dachshund dogs named Homer and Scrappy.

In his spare time, John is an avid collector of comic books as well as 50s and 60s memorabilia; all the while performing the duties of the office of Mayor.