Three Oklahoma hospital administrators were recently elected to the Oklahoma Hospital Association (OHA) board of directors for the 2023-2025 term.
Elected to at-large positions are Richard Lofgren, MD, chief executive officer, OU Health; Tim Pehrson, president and CEO, INTEGRIS Health; and Krista Roberts, chief executive officer, St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, Enid.
Tammy Powell, president, SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital – Oklahoma City, enters her second year as chair of the board. Others serving on the board’s executive committee are Denise Webber, chair-elect, president/CEO, Stillwater Medical Center; Jay Johnson, immediate past chair, president/CEO, DRH Health, Duncan; and Daryle Voss, at-large executive committee member and southeast region chair, president and CEO, Mercy Hospital Ardmore. (STORY CONTINUES BELOW)

Continuing their terms as regional chairs on the OHA board are Kandice Allen, northwest region chair, CEO, Share Medical Center, Alva; Jim Gebhart, Oklahoma City region chair, community president, Mercy; Jonas Rabel, northeast region chair, chief hospital executive, INTEGRIS Miami and Grove hospitals; Michael McBride, Tulsa region chair, regional president and chief operating officer, Ascension St. John Medical Center, Tulsa; and Brent Smith, southwest region chairman, Comanche County Memorial Hospital, Lawton.
Continuing as at-large members are Charles Grim, secretary of health, Chickasaw Nation Department of Health, Ada; Richie Splitt, president and CEO, Norman Regional Health System; and Bennett Geister, CEO, Hillcrest Hospital South, Tulsa.
Corey Lively, CEO, Great Plains Regional Medical Center, serves as the American Hospital Association delegate to the OHA board; and Steven Crawford, MD, chair of the department of family and preventive medicine, OU College of Medicine, serves as the physician member.

Are you 60 years of age or better? The Ms. Senior America Pageant is the world’s first and foremost pageant to give honor to the women who have reached the “age of elegance” and Ms. Oklahoma Senior America is now seeking contestants to appear Saturday, April 15, 2023, at the Mustang Performing Arts Center, 200 W. Juniper, Mustang, OK 73064, at 1:00 p.m.
The contestant must be able to display a hobby or talent within 2 minutes and 45 seconds, model a long evening gown, give her philosophy of life within 35 seconds, and sit for a 5 minute interview. An information session about the Ms. Oklahoma Senior America Pageant will be held at the Album Quail Springs, 14201 N. Kentucky Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73134, on Wednesday, February 1, 2023, from 1-3 p.m.
The winner will be sponsored by the Ms. Senior Oklahoma Foundation to compete in the National Ms. Senior America Pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in October 2023. Her airfare, room and registration fee will be paid by the Foundation. Applications can be filled out on the Ms. Oklahoma Senior America Pageant Facebook page. For more information, contact Carol Kallenberger, Administrator, at msoksramerica@gmail.com.

If your organization is having an upcoming event, let us know. Email the information to news@okveterannews.com

by Greg Schwem

“Get off my pickleball court!”
I know, I know. That phrase may never reach pop culture status like, “Get off my lawn,” which curmudgeonly Clint Eastwood famously uttered in “Gran Torino” and, ultimately, became an ode to petulance and turf wars.
But, come on, when did these “kids” start playing the sport that was supposed to be reserved for old farts like me? Former “athletes” with knees that now creak, feet that swell and elbows that throb after completing simple tasks? Like getting out of bed. We took up pickleball because it’s the only sport left that, at our age, produces sweat but not a potential 911 call. If we’re too infirm for pickleball, all that’s left is bowling.
For a while, we were happy. We knew the one or two pickleball courts in our subdivisions would be empty when we rolled up with our posse of fellow retirees and snowbirds. Meanwhile, the Gen Z crowd jogged by, not even trying to hide their snickers and guffaws as they watched four guys flailing at a wiffleball, occasionally yelling, “KITCHEN” or “THREE TWO ON THE ONE” before launching a serve — an UNDERHAND serve. We didn’t care; we’d found our happy place, and, even better, knew it was created exclusively for us. Sort of like early bird dinner at Denny’s.
Or so we thought.
Now we fight for court space with those same Gen Zers, the ones who eventually stopped jogging, picked up paddles and decided to give America’s fastest growing sport a try. Oh, and they did more than try. While our medicated ointment was drying on our aching muscles, they were silently taking over. (STORY CONTINUES BELOW)

On a recent Friday evening at a suburban Chicago tennis club, it was hard to find any actual tennis players. Instead, more than 80 people, me included, converged for open play on tennis courts that had hastily been converted into pickleball courts via brightly colored tape that doubled as boundary lines.
As I waited for a court to open, I scanned the area and estimated at least half the players were younger than 35. The figure was probably higher; my deteriorating eyesight made it difficult to make out shapes on the outer courts.
What’s worse is that, in between drop spins and stacks (OK, I’ll stop with the terminology), they were discussing post-pickleball plans. Some talked of going out for drinks. Or dinner. At 9 p.m.!
After pickleball, the only thing I go out for is Advil.
Thankfully, in pickleball, younger does not necessarily mean better when it comes to skill. I have found the Gen Z set lacking in patience during an extended rally of cross-court dinks, preferring a smash when the ball is nowhere near at “smash level.” Gen Zers, if that sentence befuddles but also intrigues you, grab a paddle and join the fun.
But consider this your warning. “Fun” to grizzled pickleball veterans means you will most likely be on the receiving end of a pickleball hit with full force and aimed directly at your midsection.
It’s not that we hate you personally; rather, we are angry that our sport, almost overnight, doubled in popularity because a younger demographic wanted to be part of our playdates. And what are we supposed to do to exact revenge? Crash your MMOGs? (Massively Multiplayer Online Games). We don’t own Xboxes; we buy them for our grandchildren.
So, we’ll take out our frustrations on the pickleball court, specifically against you, bro with the backward baseball cap, baggy shorts and “Lollapalooza ’22” T-shirt, who took up pickleball because the courts were walking distance to his favorite karaoke bar. We’ll apologize when the point’s over.
Or maybe we won’t. Maybe we’ll do the snickering. Or maybe we’ll high-five our partners as we return to the baseline and get ready for the next point.
On second thought, it’s probably not a good idea if we high-five.
We might sprain something.

(Greg Schwem is a corporate stand-up comedian and author of two books: “Text Me If You’re Breathing: Observations, Frustrations and Life Lessons From a Low-Tech Dad” and the recently released “The Road To Success Goes Through the Salad Bar: A Pile of BS From a Corporate Comedian,” available at Amazon.com. Visit Greg on the web at www.gregschwem.com.
You’ve enjoyed reading, and laughing at, Greg Schwem’s monthly humor columns in Senior Living News. But did you know Greg is also a nationally touring stand-up comedian? And he loves to make audiences laugh about the joys, and frustrations, of growing older. Watch the clip and, if you’d like Greg to perform at your senior center or senior event, contact him through his website at www.gregschwem.com)

Dear Recently,
I’m very sorry to hear about your uncle. The death of a loved of can bring about Whether or not you are required to file a federal income tax return this year will depend on how much you earned last year, as well as the source of the income, your age and filing status.
Here’s a rundown of this tax season’s IRS tax filing requirement thresholds.
For most people, this is pretty straightforward. If your 2022 gross income – which includes all taxable income, not counting your Social Security benefits, unless you are married and filing separately – was below the threshold for your filing status and age, you may not have to file. But if it’s over, you will.
* Single: $12,950 ($14,700 if you’re 65 or older by Jan. 1, 2022).
* Married filing jointly: $25,900 ($27,300 if you or your spouse is 65 or older; or $28,700 if you’re both over 65).
* Married filing separately: $5 at any age.
* Head of household: $19,400 ($21,150 if 65 or older).
* Qualifying widow(er) with dependent child: $25,900 ($27,300 if 65 or older).
To get a detailed breakdown on federal filing requirements, along with information on taxable and nontaxable income, call the IRS at 800-829-3676 and ask them to mail you a free copy of the “1040 and 1040-SR Instructions for Tax Year 2022,” or you can see it online at IRS.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040gi.pdf.
Check Here Too – Be aware that there are other financial situations that can require you to file a tax return, even if your gross income falls below the IRS filing requirements. For example, if you earned more than $400 from self-employment in 2022, owe any special taxes like an alternative minimum tax, or get premium tax credits because you, your spouse or a dependent is enrolled in a Health Insurance Marketplace plan, you’ll need to file.
You’ll also need to file if you’re receiving Social Security benefits, and one-half of your benefits plus your other gross income and any tax-exempt interest exceeds $25,000, or $32,000 if you’re married and filing jointly.
To figure all this out, the IRS offers an online tax tool that asks a series of questions that will help you determine if you’re required to file, or if you should file because you’re due a refund. It takes less than 15 minutes to complete.
You can access this tool at IRS.gov/Help/ITA – click on “Do I Need to File a Tax Return?” Or you can get assistance over the phone by calling the IRS helpline at 800-829-1040.
Check Your State – Even if you’re not required to file a federal tax return this year, don’t assume that you’re also excused from filing state income taxes. The rules for your state might be very different. Check with your state tax agency before concluding that you’re entirely in the clear. For links to state tax agencies see Taxadmin.org/state-tax-agencies.
Tax Preparation Help – If you find that you do need to file a tax return this year, you can free file through the IRS at IRS.gov/FreeFile if your 2022 adjusted gross income was below $73,000.
Or, if you need some help, contact the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (or TCE) program. Sponsored by the IRS, TCE provides free tax preparation and counseling to middle and low-income taxpayers, age 60 and older. Call 800-906-9887 or visit IRS.treasury.gov/freetaxprep to locate services near you.
You can also get tax preparation assistance through the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide service. Call 888-227-7669 or visit AARP.org/findtaxhelp for more information. You don’t have to be an AARP member to use this service.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

Two venues with two different topics will include more education partners

Beginning its eighth year of free educational seminars, the Senior Living Truth Series has announced expansion of its offering with two different workshops each month in two separate locations.
The new locations are in the Atrium at Crossings Community Church, 14600 North Portland Ave, and the Patience S. Latting Northwest Library, 5600 NW 122nd St. Programs at Crossings will be on Thursdays, and programs at the Northwest Library will be on Tuesdays.
“Both new venues offer more education-friendly environments,” said co-moderator Dr. Nikki Buckelew, PhD. “We are hoping to attract a more diverse audience.
“The success of the Senior Living Truth Series is due largely to the support of our education partners.
It is because of them we are able to continue offering the programming at no cost to attendees. In addition to their financial contributions, education partners are selected due to their commitment to providing information and resources to attendees without obligation. That’s right – no sales and no sales pitch – ever. We want people to make informed decisions with no strings attached.” (STORY CONTINUES BELOW)

Attendance has ranged from 150-200 monthly at the past location, Quail Creek Golf & Country Club, but the Crossings location will accommodate even more in an education-friendly environment. While the Northwest Library location is smaller, Buckelew said she was excited to be able to add this educational opportunity to the library’s calendar.
She will remain the primary moderator for the Crossings seminars, but education partners will rotate responsibility at the Northwest Library location. Topics will be more broad-based, and this venue will include more panelists.
One education partner expressing excitement at the expansion was Marilyn Olson, VillagesOKC executive director.
“Professionals and organizations who provide information without a sales pitch give added meaning to the phrase ‘knowledge is power,’ ” Olson said. “Mature adults are seeking trusted information – more than from the internet. This is a free monthly series providing that opportunity. Here attendees learn from a wide variety of professionals and organizations who present, and sessions also allow time for attendees to talk personally with education partners.”
Here are the January series topics:
January 12 in the Atrium at Crossings Community Church
The Truth about Choosing Your ‘Forever’ Home: Staying Put or moving on
Maybe you’ve decided to stay in your current home and “make it work” or is it possible you’ve decided to sell your current home and buy another one in preparation for getting older. Some people call this next home their “Forever Home.” Either way, you’ve made a choice to avoid moving into a retirement community.
January 24 at the Northwest Library
Smart and “Not so Smart” Accessibility Ideas for Your Home
Planning to stay in your current home for the long haul? If so, you’ll want to know the most up to date accessibility features designed to make your life easier. Our panel of experts and education partners will share gadgets, tools, and strategies for helping you live safely and comfortably.
Seminars are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Seating is limited, and pre-registration is required at 405.563.7501 or:
https://seniorlivingtruthseries.com/.
A complete list of monthly topics is located at:
https://seniorlivingtruthseries.com/.
Senior Living Truth Series provides candid conversations concerning today’s senior living issues and options with panelists who specialize in the topic areas. SLTS provides education and resources designed to help people live empowered lives and make informed decisions. Its motto is “Educate. Equip. Empower.”

The National Institutes of Health has awarded the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation $3.4 million to study age-related muscle atrophy and weakness.
The five-year grant follows a discovery by OMRF scientists Holly Van Remmen, Ph.D., and Jacob Brown, Ph.D., connecting age-related muscle loss called sarcopenia to a missing nerve signal.
Most people begin to experience progressive loss of muscle mass and strength in their 30s or 40s. The condition becomes more pronounced after age 65, leaving older people susceptible to falls and difficulty performing daily tasks.
“It’s just a natural process of aging, and some people lose more muscle mass and strength than others,” said Brown, a scientist in Van Remmen’s lab.
While inactivity is the most common contributor to sarcopenia, Van Remmen’s team has shown another cause: denervation, which is an interruption in communication with the nerves that connect muscles to the spinal cord. (STORY CONTINUES BELOW)

In recent work published in the journal Redox Biology, Van Remmen and Brown found that muscle makes a metabolite during denervation that leads to muscle atrophy. Metabolites are the products of chemical changes within a cell.
With the new grant, the researchers will study whether blocking the production of this metabolite protects against age-related muscle atrophy in research models.
“This is a novel area of research that we hope will lead to new possibilities to design much-needed pharmaceutical interventions,” said Van Remmen, who holds the G.T. Blankenship Chair in Aging Research. “Ultimately, we hope this path of research will extend the time that older adults can remain healthy and active.”
Without current drug options to treat sarcopenia, Van Remmen added that it’s important for older adults to ward off its progression by staying physically active and maintaining a healthy diet.
“Simple strength and resistance training paired with a diet that includes adequate amounts of healthy proteins can make a world of difference in maintaining muscle mass,” she said.

Story by Darl DeVault, contributing editor

Earnest “Red” Callaway, a visionary volunteer organizer in the world of bicycling and successful paddleboat racing team captain while at Spanish Cove Retirement Village in Yukon, died on December 29 at 96. Callaway dedicated himself to promoting the sport of cycling and making it accessible to all, leaving a lasting positive impact on the cycling community in Oklahoma.
Born in Loveland, Colorado, he started flying airplanes when he was 15. He joined the Navy one day after his 18th birthday in 1944. Flying transport planes, the WWII veteran retired from his 20-year career as a lieutenant commander.
Moving to Oklahoma City in 1963, he worked at the US Federal Aviation Administration Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, rising through the ranks to be the Chief of Flight Standards there. By the last 15 years of his federal service, he traveled the world from Oklahoma, leading teams coordinating takeoff and landing standards for new large civilian airports.
In 1973, at 46, Callaway founded the Oklahoma Bicycle Society (OBS) to promote bicycle safety and provide a unified voice for those interested in bicycling. He also sought to protect the rights of cyclists and make the sport more accessible to all. Through his leadership, the OBS quickly became the largest cycling organization in the state.
Callaway was a dedicated cyclist known for his ability to ride 8,000 miles a year, which helped him to become a 55-plus age group racing state champion and second nationally in the 60-plus age group. (STORY CONTINUES BELOW)

However, his real claim to fame was as a stellar bike event creator, volunteer recruiter, and negotiator in a 40-year career devoted to cycling, wherein he became known as the father of Oklahoma bicycling. He envisioned and brought to life more cycling events than all others combined across the state, enabling the building of a vibrant cycling culture.
To start the OBS, Callaway published 5,000 copies of “The Pathfinder” bicycle newsletter in 1973 and distributed it to 25 bicycle shops from Norman to Stillwater in his first master recruiter mode in cycling.
The newsletter invited Oklahoma’s cyclists to ride in planned events and join the OBS. Callaway financed the printing of the newsletter out of his own pocket for the first couple of years of the club.
Callaway’s planning and staging of the Greater Oklahoma City Century Run in 1973 and kicking off the Grand Tour in 1974 sparked a club dominance of central Oklahoma cycling importance that has never waned. He lent his expertise to any event including cycling, even triathlons, as they began in the 1980s.
“I met Red in 1983 riding my bicycle around lake Overholser. He was such an encouraging person,” said Johnny Carroll, retired daily cyclist. “We often had excellent chats in between the hard riding. The most important thing about him was he made me feel like a friend instantly. He had the precious gift of conversation.”
He perfected the administrative diplomacy needed to coordinate with Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust officials for cycling events at Lakes Overholser, Hefner, and Draper over the years. This literally paved the way to having Oklahoma City paved trails at the three largest lakes, some of the safest places to ride.
He did this by organizing events, by showing, not just telling city officials how important bicycling is to its citizens. By staging special events where thousands of people came out to ride their bicycles together, Callaway presented the civic leaders with proof of concept. A good example was in 1990 when 1,600 riders gathered to participate in the Lake Hefner Streak. This fostered an ever-present idea in civic decision-makers’ minds to address the need for safe places for these riders to participate in their sport.
Callaway’s legacy of determined advocacy for bicycling means so much to today’s local bicyclists, who now seldom have to think about where they can ride safely. He sparked the expectation that Oklahoma communities can have safe riding areas available. He added immeasurably to Oklahomans’ access to safe cycling to promote good health, their most valuable asset.
Callaway’s talents also extended to creating challenging and prestigious ultramarathon cycling events locally in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Here his expertise in safety, event planning, leadership, communications, and marketing helped spark another form of interest in bicycling. He led the OBS to stage Ironbutt, a 24-hour unpaced event doing 14-mile laps around Draper. This endurance event tested the limits of even the most experienced cyclists as riders needed to ride non-stop, with only short breaks for food if they were going to win. Ridden as a shorter version of the Race Across America (RAAM), Ironbutt became a qualifier for the grueling RAAM televised by ABC’s Wide World of Sport in its first five years.
Ironbutt’s race against the clock proved popular as a physical and mental test, with riders pushing through fatigue, pain, and sleep deprivation. Its entry list grew so large, drawing ultramarathon cyclists from around the country, Callaway helped the OBS create Tinbutt, a 12-hour event at Draper every other year to qualify for Ironbutt.
He also envisioned OBS’s popular Downwind to Wichita ride, a 172-mile journey from Oklahoma City to Wichita once each summer for several years when a strong south wind was available.
In addition to these larger events, the OBS also hosts a variety of shorter recreational rides throughout the year, including weekend and weekday evening rides while staging educational and charity events. These rides are open to all riders, regardless of skill level, allowing cyclists to get out and enjoy the sport while socializing with other riders.
In his last 10 years, Callaway excelled at paddleboat racing with his fellow residents at Spanish Cove. As captain of the Spanish Cove Dragon Boat Paddling Team for five years, he helped inspire teammates to many medals by beating teams 10, 20, 30 and even 40 years younger.
When redesigned team t-shirts were delivered, they featured the team motto, “Paddle Strong, Live Long,” in bold letters on the back of the hot-pink shirts. Callaway was not only an excellent leader on the water, but also had a vision for the team’s image and message, suggesting the team t-shirt should include the phrase “Paddle Strong, Live Long, and Die Healthy.”
“His proposal highlights the importance of physical activity and exercise in maintaining a healthy lifestyle,” said Debbie Miller, Spanish Cove wellness coordinator. “He believed the sport of dragon boat paddling provides a fun and exciting way to stay active with health benefits such as improving cardiovascular fitness, strengthening muscles, and reducing stress. He felt the team’s philosophy of living a balanced life where physical fitness, mental well-being and healthy habits are all important should be reflected on the team t-shirt.”
Callaway is survived by his wife, Dorothy Wilson, who paddled at his side at Spanish Cove, his children Rusty, Jan and Rick, their spouses and his numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his first wife, Betty, and his son and daughter-in-law, Chris and Leslie Callaway.
He lived an active and healthy life right until the end. His participation in dragon boat paddling symbolizes the importance of community in our lives. It shows even in our later years, we can still be valuable group members, contributing to its goals and enjoying the team’s camaraderie. His paddling was a testament to his fitness and vitality, and his team leadership reflected his mental acuity and energy. His paddling reminded people they can stay healthy and seek an active lifestyle in their golden years.
The cycling community in Oklahoma will forever be grateful for his contributions, and his passing is deeply felt at Spanish Cove. Callaway’s dedication to promoting fitness in many safe forms has left a lasting positive impact on Oklahoma and will be remembered for years to come.