Clare & Kirby Williams,

30 years

Kirby was already engaged to another woman when he was introduced to Clare. While attending happy hour at Clare’s office, they noticed the beautiful sunset at the State House from the office windows. On October 12, 1979, they were married at sundown on the front steps of the State House. The couple recently celebrated their 30th anniversary and have two daughters, Jeannie Guthrie, who just blessed them with their first grandchild in January 2010, and Casie Williams who lives in Little Rock.

Jim & Janet Fotioo,

34 years

Jim and Janet were highschool sweethearts who met in 1969 in a Chemistry class at Hot Springs High School. He was a senior and Janet was a sophomore. They started “going steady” in 1970 and married August 23, 1975 in St. Lukes Episcopal Church.

Ken & Vicki Cook,

40 years

Ken and Vicki Cook met on Sept. 9, 1968, on a blind date where she ordered a Coke (only because she was 19) while he was enjoying a beer at the age of 21. On their date at The Hideway, a very popular pizza place for Oklahoma State University students, they mostly talked about literature and shared their class schedules. Vicki “just happened to be” in a classroom building at 10:00 a.m. where she acted surprised to run into Ken. They married nine months later, June 21, 1969. They celebrated their 40th anniversary in Italy. The Cooks have two children, Drew and Kate.

Q. Byrum & Rita Hurst,

30 years

While dating, Rita and Q. Byrum vacationed in Vail with ski club friends. They loved the romantic atmosphere so much, they knew that it was the place they wanted to be married so they set their wedding date for the next year’s ski trip. They were married in the Vail chapel on January 30, 1980, surprising their friends by slipping invitations under their doors the night before the wedding. The Hursts have five children, Harmony, Josh, Justin, Rachel and Quincy, five grandchildren, and two more on the way.

Pat & Ellen McCabe,

27 years

Pat McCabe, a native of Rhinelander, Wisconsin and his wife Ellen, who hails from Alton, Illinois, met in Kansas in 1980. Both worked in a hospital. Pat was an administrator and Ellen was a dietary director in a nearby community. The couple met when Ellen went to help a friend at the hospital where Pat worked. They became friends and began dating. They moved to Hot Springs in 1985 and fell in love with their new home. They celebrated their 27th anniversary in November.

David & Pat Switzer,

33 years

David and Pat Switzer were introduced to each other by a mutual friend on October 6, 1976. After consistently seeing each other at events, David finally got the courage to ask Pat out to dinner. They were immediately smitten with one another and decided to marry after 18 months of dating. They married on May 5, 1978 in a quaint, private wedding ceremony, and will celebrate their 33rd anniversary this year. The Switzers have three children and three grandchildren.