Our Mission
Centenarians of Oklahoma is a rapidly growing, not for profit, volunteer organization whose sole purpose is to honor citizens of Oklahoma who are 100 years of age or older.
Our Team
Left to Right: Leah, Peggy, Gloria, Connie, Sue, Ann and Terri
Not Pictured: Nancy, Ellen, Joy, Lori and Carole
Our Story
Every business has a beginning, and ours was founded in 1991, in Oklahoma City as Centenarian Club of Oklahoma, Inc.
Centenarians of Oklahoma is incorporated and a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. The stated mission of the group has always been to recognize and honor Oklahomans as they reach 100 years of age and older. The Centenarian Club of Oklahoma, Inc. has operated under the name Centenarians of Oklahoma since late 2014.
In its early years, the organization operated under the auspices of a Board of Directors, received some grants from various sources, and compensated executive directors and volunteers who helped with the work. Two of the principals were Richard Amend and Mary Lou Bates.
The Oklahoma City area was the group focus in the beginning. As the organization grew, Tulsa volunteers took over the responsibility of honoring centenarians in the eastern part of the state.
Time passed, and the OKC group lost funding at the time when privacy laws became more stringent. OKC dropped off and Richard Ziglar and volunteers in the Tulsa area continued to honor those they could locate.
About 2014, Gloria Helmuth began serving with Richard Ziglar and volunteers in Tulsa; in late 2015 and early 2016 Sue Scott, Dorothy Griffin, Carole Minter joined the team. We welcomed Peggy Barnett and Connie Connely in 2018, Terri Callaway, Nancy Williams and Ann Attig in 2020, Shirley Brown and Leah Mathews in 2022 and Ellen Morehart, Joy Farnsworth and Lori Collins in 2023. The inductee count went up with these additional people. Using their detective skills, we find, honor and remember our most senior individuals in the State of Oklahoma. All who work with the program are volunteers. We subsist due to the generosity of those who make donations to us.
Meet the Team
These great ladies are the board members, researchers, presenters and heart of this organization. They volunteer their time and resources to honor Oklahoma’s wonderful Centenarians.
Sue Scott
Board Chair
From the insurance world, Sue is a willing volunteer that brings invaluable business experience to the group.
Connie Connely
Vice Chair
Retired from teaching special education for 39 years, Connie joined our team in 2018. She maintains the record keeping files about Centenarians.
Terri Callaway
Treasurer and Recording Secretary
Retired accountant, Terri is excited about celebrating birthdays with Centenarians.
Peggy Barnett
Board Member
With claims research experience at Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, Peggy is a welcome asset to our team where she does research, publicity and is in charge of archives.
Nancy Williams
Board Member
Retired Mid-Del teacher and CDR in the USNR, Nancy loves to volunteer with the Centenarians. She considers it an honor to meet those who have “lived the history of the state” and to honor many from military service as the Greatest Generation.
Ann Attig
Board Member
Retired librarian enjoys hearing centenarian life stories, their words of wisdom and reasons for their longevity. Ann honors centenarians at events in the Oklahoma City area.
Leah Mathews
Board Member
Leah is new to the Tulsa area and volunteers with the Centenarians because she loves a great birthday celebration. Honoring a Centenarian is delicious ‘icing on the cake’.
Ellen Morehart
Board Member
Lori Collins
Board Member
Lori has lived in the Tulsa area her entire life. She recently retired from the field of accounting and is looking forward to volunteering with the Centenarians of Oklahoma. Honoring our older generation is a privilege.
Joy Farnsworth
Board Member
Joy recently retired from the Industrial Sales field. She is interested in working with the Centenarians of Oklahoma and celebrating their contributions to others.
Gloria Helmuth
Volunteer
Gloria is the retired Director of our organization.
Carole Minter
Volunteer
A retired pastor, Carole looks at her work with Centenarians as an extension of her ministry.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our continued success is made possible with the support of our donors…
The work performed through the Centenarians of Oklahoma could not happen without generous supporters like you.
We operate by volunteers and donations only while providing this special honor to our “Golden Okies”.
Thank you for your continued support.