In the midst of the raging snowstorm on Christmas Eve, Gene Herndon of Minco saw a beacon of hope coming his way:

Headlights from a four-wheel-drive tractor.

Stranded in his car on Hwy 152 between Mustang and Union City for nearly eight hours, Herndon had watched as the storm continued to dump inch after inch of snow on the ground, burying his car deeper and deeper with each passing hour.

As Herndon waited and watched the falling snow, his wife, Marilyn, secretary for the Grady County Commissioners, was also waiting and watching the snow.

Because it was Christmas Eve, her husband was scheduled to work only a half day at the FAA Center east of Mustang, and she became more and more worried as the hours passed. That she was unable to reach her husband by cell phone made her all the more anxious.

The relief Herndon experienced can only be imagined as the big tractor approached and began pulling cars from the drift. The man on the tractor worked continuously until he freed five cars that had been trapped in the same snowdrift for so many hours.

The man on the tractor took each vehicle to the nearby home of retired police officer Bill Rickets – and it was there that Bill and his wife welcomed their guests with open arms.

Herndon never learned the name of the man on the tractor who may well have saved his life and the lives of others.

In the true spirit of Christmas, the Rickets offered their home and provisions to a group of tired and frightened people, turning six strangers into friends by making them comfortable and giving them a hot meal. Later, they all sat down together and spent the evening watching the weather news that dominated the airways that day.

The Rickets found enough space, pillows and blankets to make a warm bed for their new-found friends and they even shared a glass of eggnog before retiring for the night.

The next morning, the Rickets served their guests hot biscuits and gravy.

At home, Marilyn and her dogs were still waiting for Herndon to come home. She did not sleep that night, pacing the floor with worry, still unable to reach her husband.

The next morning on Christmas Day, Herndon thanked his hosts and headed for home. Twice he got stuck in the snow and twice a good Samaritan in a Jeep pulled him out.

Once he arrived safely in Minco, Herndon was still unable to get home because the snow on his road was drifted too high to pass.

He was, however, finally able to call his wife and let her know he was OK, and he also called a friend to check on road conditions in Chickasha. After learning roads were passable, Herndon headed for Chickasha where he spent Christmas with his daughter, who cooked Christmas dinner.

Herndon remained at his daughter’s home until his road was passable and finally made it home to his wife and puppies late Christmas evening.

“My puppies and I were so happy to see him,” Marilyn said. “This reaffirms your faith in people.”

“By Saturday, he was getting antsy to go to Wal-Mart,” said Marilyn, who has often urged her husband to carry emergency supplies with him in his car, something he has never done.

However, on this trip to Wal-Mart, Marilyn said her husband returned home with new tires on his vehicle, and a new coat, a hat and gloves - safely stashed behind the seat in his vehicle.