100 Years of Fashion Goes Red – Official Centennial Event –

 Celebrated Valentine’s Day

Oklahoma Heart Hospital and Oklahoma Cardiovascular Associates Celebrate “Wear Red” Campaign to Educate Oklahoma Women about

Risk of Heart Disease

The Oklahoma Heart Hospital and Oklahoma Cardiovascular Associates celebrated Valentine’s Day and Wear Red month by inaugurating a new Centennial display at the hospital that honored Red Fashions through the decades of Oklahoma’s 100 years. The display was an officially sanctioned Centennial event.  

“We are weaving our commitment to women’s heart health with the national “Wear Red” campaign and Oklahoma’s Centennial this year with a fabulous display of red dresses throughout the 100 year history of Oklahoma,” said Peggy Tipton, R.N., Chief Operating Officer, Oklahoma Heart Hospital.  “Our team has searched for vintage dresses from across the country and designed and sewn antique dresses representing the 10 decades of Oklahoma’s Centennial.” 

The Centennial dresses feature an outstanding woman from Oklahoma’s history representing each decade of the 100 years.  The exhibit recognizes the famous Pioneer Woman from Ponca City – the flamboyant flapper of the Oil fields in the 20’s – the nation’s first black judge – the first female awarded a Purple Heart in World War II and many more notable Oklahoma women.

A compliment to the Centennial display is a display of red dresses donated by Oklahoma’s First Ladies.  Donna Nigh joined the celebration, Cathy Keating told her family’s personal story battling heart disease, and the daughters of Shirley Bellmon talked about the impact of their mother’s death to heart disease on that family. NBA Hornet forward Marc Jackson presented a specially made red Hornets uniform to the exhibit during the event to honor women with heart disease.

“The facts of women’s heart disease in Oklahoma continue to shock us, the average age for heart disease among Oklahoma women is 49 years old.  Heart disease is the #1 killer of women – taking more Oklahoma women’s lives than all of the cancers combined, 1 in 3 women in our state will develop heart disease. And yet a recent Harris poll revealed only 13 percent of women in America believes that heart disease and stroke are the greatest health threat to women.” – Dr. John Harvey, Chief Executive Officer, Oklahoma Heart Hospital.