PRESIDENT'S BIOGRAPHY

Elected during the 2009 biennial convention, Debra Henley serves as president of the Oklahoma FRW. She previously held the office of 2nd vice president.

Debra is 3rd Congressional District chairman for the Oklahoma Republican Party, vice chairman of the Creek County Republican Party, and a member of Eagle Forum, a conservative, pro-family organization directed by Phyllis Schlafly.

Debra served as president of Creek County RWC from 2005-2007 and as chairman of the Creek County Republican Party from 2004-2006. She served on the state platform committee in 2003, 2004, and 2007, and was an alternate delegate to the 2004 national convention and a delegate to the 2008 national convention. She is a former committee member of the Coalition for the Protection of Women’s Health and Life PAC, both pro-life organizations, and currently sits on the executive board of Oklahomans for Life.

Debra is a native Oklahoman and resides in Sapulpa with her husband, Bruce. They have been married for 30 years and have two children and five grandchildren. They attend the First Baptist Church of Sapulpa, where Debra is active in the choir, and has directed the handbell group and the children’s choir.

Debra earned a bachelor's degree in fashion merchandising and design from Oklahoma State University. She enjoys traveling, deep sea fishing, reading, cooking, shopping, attending Broadway plays and spending time with her grandchildren.

Publisher's Note: Text published as provided by Oklahoma FRW.

FEDERATION PROFILE

Oklahoma, one of the youngest states in the nation, admitted to the Union in 1907, was populated by Indians removed from the southeast in the 1880s, and land-hungry farmers in the land runs and lotteries of the 1890s. Most of these people were advocates of the principles of the Southern Democrat Party, which dominated Oklahoma politics for sixty years.

A Republican success during this time occurred in the wake of women's suffrage when, in 1920, Alice M. Robertson became the only Oklahoma woman elected to Congress.

Congresswoman Robertson subsequently founded the first Oklahoma Republican Women's Club in Oklahoma City in 1921. There were few successes during the next 20 years, but the faithful few worked hard, served well, and grew with Oklahoma. In 1941, the Republican Women's Clubs in Oklahoma were federated. Since that time the Oklahoma Federation has grown to 30 clubs with over 1300 members. OFRW celebrated its 60th year in 2001.

Club members diligently serve in local, state and national campaigns and get out the vote programs. Many members have been elected to statewide offices and offices in their respective counties.

In 2003 the OFRW hosted the very successful NFRW Region IX Conference in Oklahoma City, attended by the 2002-3 NFRW President and Executive Committee members.

The OFRW Capitol Dome pin was designed in 2003 to celebrate the completion of the dome on the Oklahoma state capitol building. OFRW buttons were created to identify our members at county, district and state Republican conventions.

In 2004, in addition to grassroots work in many campaigns, OFRW and 19 of its 30 local clubs contributed over $40,000 to Republican candidates at the local and state level.

In January 2005 Republicans took control the House of Representatives with a 55 to 44 majority and elected a Republican speaker 84 years to the day since the only other Republican was elected to the post. The House also elected OFRW member Rep. Susan Winchester, as the state's first female speaker pro tempore. OFRW member Lt. Governor Mary Fallin is the president of the Senate.

The Oklahoma First Ladies program honors outstanding Oklahoma Republican women at an annual luncheon and provides funding for the OFRW essay contest, programs, and contributions to Republican candidates.

Republican Women Care - Through "Caring for America" committees, local clubs serve their communities by participating in literacy projects, purchasing library books, supporting our troops in combat, helping needy families, providing career clothing for women seeking to re-enter the work force, and helping to build houses for Habitat for Humanity, among others. They also contribute to the NFRW internship and scholarship programs.

The Oklahoma Federation of Republican Women sponsors an annual essay contest for 7th and 8th grade students. This is a serious endeavor on our part to encourage students to reflect on the importance of government and patriotism in their own lives, as well as how it affected people in the past.

Past presidents include: 
Sara Jo Odom
Jeannine Long
Colleen Austin, 2000
Nancy L. Stirman, 1996
Irma Losey, 1994
Helen Scott Fay, 1989
Clare Rattan, 1987
Rosemary Tarr, 1983
Mary Helen Swanson, 1979
Mrs. Lloyd P. Bird, 1976
Mrs. George Mizer, 1975
Mrs. Side Shepherd, Jr., 1971
Mrs. Arthur Maddox, 1969
Mrs. Orin Kimball, 1961
Mrs. Edward Gockel, 1961
Mrs. Esther Holt, 1957
Mrs. Byron Kirkpatrick, 1941 (founding)

Publisher's Note: Text published as provided by Oklahoma FRW.

LOCAL CLUBS

After Five RW Group Cherokee County RW Chisholm Trail RW Cleveland County RW Countyline RW Creek County RW Custer County RW Delaware County RW Downtown Oklahoma City RW Edmond RW First Capital RW (Logan    County)

Five Star RW Frontier Country RW Garfield County RW Great Plains RW Green Country RW Heartland RW Helen Cole RW Kingfisher County RW Lila D. Linsey RWC Lincoln County RW Mid-Del RW Noble County RW

Oklahoma City RW Payne County RW Pittsburg County RW Redlands RW Rogers County RW RWC of Tulsa County Southern Oklahoma RWC Southwest Oklahoma RW Tri City RW Wheatland RW of Woods    County Woodward County RW