How many people who are 100 or older are living in Oklahoma?

More than 235, according to Centenarians of Oklahoma, a nonprofit volunteer group in Tulsa dedicated to tracking down centenarians and bestowing on them the honor they are due.

“Our sole purpose is to honor (at no cost) Oklahoma citizens who have reached the age of 100 years or older,” said volunteer Peggy Barnett.

Centenarians of Oklahoma report that there are more than 230 living centenarians in Oklahoma and more than 2,350 have been honored since the group was formed.

The Tulsa-based group gives centenarians a framed certificate, a biographical summary and a “Golden Okie” button. The group follows up with the Centenarians on their birthdays; at Christmas and with other special occasions during the year.

There is no cost, fee or obligation.  They believe this is the only group of its kind in the United States

It was founded in 1991, in Oklahoma City as Centenarian Club of Oklahoma, Inc. 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, had compensated executive directors and volunteers who helped with the work.  Two of the principals were Richard Amend and Mary Lou Bates.

When begun, the Oklahoma City area was the focus of the group.  As it grew, so, too did the group called Northeast Active Timers, Inc. (NEATs) and they took over the responsibility of honoring centenarians in the eastern part of the state.  The two areas operated out of Oklahoma City with records maintained there and the Tulsa people reporting directly to Oklahoma City.

Time passed, and the OKC group lost funding about the time when privacy laws became more stringent.  It’s hard to find names of centenarians in facilities and also to work with their next of kin. Oklahoma City dropped off, and Richard Ziglar and volunteers in the Tulsa area continued to honor those they could locate.

Their website is centenariansok.com. Their website includes a video completed in conjunction with the Oklahoma State University 100 Year Life Program, along with statistics and other interesting facts.  The Facebook page shows current honorees.  Permanent records of deceased Centenarians of Oklahoma are archived at the Oklahoma Historical Society and become a part of Oklahoma history.

People who know an centenarian are asked to contact the group at [email protected] or by phone at 918-510-0150,