A Simple Twist Of Fate

Gerlinde Williams was waitressing when a chance encounter set her on the path to eventually run the state of Oklahoma's in-plant.

By MIKE LLEWELLYN

To say that Gerlinde Williams has come a long way would be a big understatement.

Thirty years ago, the future Administrator of Central Printing for the State of Oklahoma was working as a waitress in a hotel restaurant, having just arrived in the United States from Germany. She didn't realize it at the time, but one of her regular customers quietly noticed she worked twice as hard as her fellow employees.