By Nick Thomas

Chances are, every time velvet-voiced Johnny Mathis takes center stage during his current US tour, the atmosphere could turn Misty.
Sure, some devoted Mathis fans might swoon teary-eyed with waves of emotional nostalgia witnessing the 86-year-old singing icon in person, but many will just dutifully sway to the familiar soothing melodies as the veteran performer delivers his signature ballads such as “Wonderful! Wonderful!,” “Chances Are,” and, of course, his 1959 hit – “Misty.”
Interrupted briefly by the pandemic last year, Mathis continues his 2022 Voice of Romance Tour with stops around the country (see www.johnnymathis.com). Although the viral menace is still lurking, it has not deterred the soulful singer from performing this year.
“Well, it’s what I do,” said Mathis from his home in Los Angeles during a tour break. “Except for earlier in the pandemic, I’ve been touring since I recorded my first album in 1956.”
Currently in his 66th year as a recording artist, the Mathis career statistics are impressive, including 79 original albums, 43 singles on the Billboard Pop Chart, 5 Grammy nominations as well as a 2003 Lifetime Achievement Grammy and songs used in over 60 films and television shows.
Then there’s his historic 1958 Greatest Hits album, released just two years after his debut album, which became the first Greatest Hits album issued by any pop artist.
“Mitch Miller was responsible for that,” said Mathis, referring to the conductor and record producer best remembered for the 60s musical show “Sing Along with Mitch” on NBC. Mathis signed with Columbia Records in 1956 and to cash in on the growing Mathis phenomenon, Miller wanted to release a new album in the late 50s but the singer was in Europe. Mathis had scored big with recent hits, so Miller bundled several together on one record and “Johnny’s Greatest Hits” would spend almost 10 continuous years on the Billboard Top Albums Chart.
Ironically, Mathis’s signature song, “Misty,” didn’t appear on the 1958 compilation since it would be featured the following year on his “Heavenly” album. Written by Errol Garner (music) and Johnny Burke (lyrics), Mathis first heard the tune at the Black Hawk nightclub in San Francisco where he grew up.
“I used to go there as a teenager to watch the singers and the owner would let me sit in the back where no one could see me,” recalled Mathis who would eventually be discovered singing at the club. “Garner would perform several times a year and play this wonderful tune (Misty) on the piano with no lyrics. His piano introduction was about a minute and a half with all sorts of chord changes and, oh man, I loved hearing it.”
Later, Mathis learned Burke had added lyrics to the melody. “Columbia usually chose all the songs for me to record but as soon as I got a chance to select something, I recorded Misty.”
While Mathis acknowledges the influence of many professional and personal buddies throughout his career, one always stands apart.
“I began singing because my dad sang,” says Mathis. “He was my best pal and my true blessing is that he lived long enough to see my success as a singer.”
Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery, in Alabama, and has written features, columns, and interviews for numerous magazines and newspapers. See www.getnickt.org.

https://www.navigatingmedicare.com/

To ensure that Oklahoma is prepared for future public health emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic, the Center for Public Health Practice at the Hudson College of Public Health at the OU Health Sciences Center convened stakeholders from across the state to study strengths and weaknesses in various sectors of society. Today, that group — known as the Achieving a Healthy Oklahoma initiative — is announcing recommendations aimed at improving preparedness and making Oklahomans less vulnerable to emerging diseases.
“While our state mounted a strong response to COVID-19, we wanted to bring people together in order to learn from our mistakes and build upon our resources,” said Dale Bratzler, DO, MPH, interim dean of the Hudson College of Public Health and the University of Oklahoma’s Chief COVID Officer. “Members of this initiative came from diverse sectors of our society, and they dedicated themselves to establishing actions we can take to improve and expand our public health infrastructure.”
The Achieving a Healthy Oklahoma initiative began nearly a year ago as a nonpartisan effort funded by private and philanthropic organizations. The group, with more than 100 members representing the sectors of public health/healthcare, business, education, and community organizations, held statewide listening sessions and workgroup meetings, conducted interviews and performed surveys.
From those efforts, the initiative’s four overarching recommendations are:
1. State and local health departments should optimize emergency response performance by:
* Identifying key public and private partnership capabilities to improve performance across Oklahoma; and
* Coordinating innovative responses and efforts across jurisdictional boundaries
2. Health leaders and policymakers should pursue sustainable funding for state and local health departments to strengthen public-private partnerships. Oklahoma State Department of Health workforce data indicates there are 316 unfilled public health positions — 193 of which are considered critical — across Oklahoma. The greatest shortage is among registered nurses.
3. The Center for Public Health Practice (at the Hudson College of Public Health) should serve as a hub for:
* Communications around public health preparedness
* Policy collaboration
* Workforce development data and evaluation
* Cross-sector collaboration to guide data modernization and grant opportunities
* Periodic review of the Achieving a Healthy Oklahoma recommendations and impacts
4. Data modernization must be a key driver for the next phase of preparedness and health improvement. Policymakers must pursue funding for sustainable, interconnected health data solutions, including cross-sector, statewide and national systems. The Center for Public Health Practice is uniquely positioned to serve as a central data modernization hub between public-private entities to pursue scalable and interoperable health data projects.
The Achieving a Healthy Oklahoma initiative made further recommendations specific to the sectors of public health/healthcare, business, education, and community engagement. Within each area, action items were designated to the Center for Public Health Practice, Oklahoma policymakers and public-private engagement.
The initiative also gleaned insight from different areas of Oklahoma through six regional listening sessions. Listening was key to understanding each area’s distinct needs, as one stakeholder said: “We really have to step away from planning for people without planning with people. What you do for me, without me, you do to me.”
Common themes emerged in each community. Participants identified strengths including a strong volunteer presence; flexibility among common and secondary schools; business engagement in the emergency response effort; and coordination of emergency response systems at the local and county level. Weaknesses included inadequate staffing at county health departments, hospitals and schools; politicization of strictly science and health issues; technology barriers; burnout among healthcare workers; and barriers to vaccine rollout.
Recommendations that developed from listening sessions include: developing real-time actionable communication strategies; additional investment in the healthcare workforce and ensuring staff work at the highest level of licensure; making real-time, decentralized and transparent data accessible; and training policymakers and political leaders on disaster response and health emergency management.
The regional outreach of the Achieving a Healthy Oklahoma initiative also identified several successes unique to each area’s response to COVID-19. In Duncan, for example, urgent care clinics played a critical role in diverting non-emergency care from hospitals. Duncan Regional Hospital retained its employees and cross-trained staff to adapt to changing needs. In Muskogee, the city sent masks to every resident, and businesses were proactive in encouraging masking in stores. In Miami, first responders and leaders from schools and county health departments facilitated an increase in public trust and communication. In addition, the local hospital system, operated by Integris, partnered with Indian Health Services to manage the influx of COVID-19 cases.
In McAlester, hospitals diverted care to federally qualified health centers, which played a critical role in relieving local healthcare facilities that were overburdened by COVID-19. In addition, the Choctaw Nation was a key partner in the local vaccination effort. In Lawton, libraries served as central hubs to deliver IT access and community resource catalogs to community members. The vaccination effort was quickly organized, and volunteers and community partners delivered up to 1,500 vaccinations a day.
The Southern Plains Tribal Health Board, which provides a unified voice on tribal public health needs and policy for the 43 federally recognized tributes in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas, extended tribal resources to all residents in local communities regardless of tribal status. Tribes also took a population-level approach to addressing COVID-19 health needs rather than an individual approach. Contact tracers with tribes served as comprehensive case managers and public health allies.
The Achieving a Healthy Oklahoma initiative is one of the first of its kind in the nation, and it establishes the foundation for Oklahoma to serve as a leading agent of change for public health, said Gary Cox, J.D., Associate Dean for Public Health Practice in the Hudson College of Public Health and Community Partnerships Director for the college’s Center for Public Health.
“The work accomplished this past year by our committees provides actionable steps for Oklahoma to be better poised across healthcare, business, education, and community sectors to prepare for — and respond to — public health crises in the future,” Cox said. “The Center for Public Health Practice is prepared to turn these action steps into sustainable, effective programs that can be implemented throughout Oklahoma and serve as a template for the rest of the nation.”
To read the entire report from the Achieving a Healthy Oklahoma initiative, visit https://publichealth.ouhsc.edu/AHO.

by Greg Schwem

Maybe it’s time to admit that, when it comes to parental discipline, our skills have disappeared faster than a toddler’s attention span.
Princess Kate Middleton recently found herself under the disciplinarian microscope when a hilarious, yet uncomfortable video emerged starring her youngest child, 4-year-old Prince Louis and fifth in line of succession to the British throne. (Translation: He will never be King).
The video, shot as mother and son watched the Platinum Jubilee pageant from front-row seats, featured a clearly bored Louis sticking out his tongue at his mum and batting her hand away when she tried to refrain him from “cocking a snook,” the British expression for thumbing one’s nose.
Because the dustup happened between royals, the video naturally went viral, causing millions to give their unwanted opinions on Kate’s parenting skills. The responses ranged from sympathetic (kids will be kids, even if they do live in palaces) to calling Louis a spoiled brat for daring to show disrespect to the future Queen of England. What kind of hooligan will Louis be at 15 if he is already testing boundaries at 4, they wondered?
I chuckled when I saw the video, knowing Kate was in an impossible situation. What was she supposed to do, knowing her every move was being recorded by dozens of cameras? Backhand her son across the face? Summon the royal guillotine? Or, worse, put young Louis in timeout by making him sit with the weird-haired gentleman. none other than British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, in the second row?
If you’re a parent, you’ve had your own Kate moment. When she was 2, my eldest daughter bit my finger hard enough to draw blood. She is now 25 and holds a corporate job. She has never spent time in jail. At least, not that I’m aware.
Cut Kate some slack, I thought. All children should be subject to discipline, but who are we to judge how it is administered?
Of course, that was before I saw the Mercedes.
It was sitting, unattended, in the park I visit each morning with my dog. A real beauty she was; jet black in color, with the silver three-point Mercedes-Benz emblem glistening in the rising sun. A Google search revealed I was staring at the 12-volt, S63 model, featuring one-button start, forward and reverse shifter, wear-resistant wheels, one USB port and an MP3 interface. The car retailed for anywhere between $190 and $250, depending on what site you were perusing.
Oh, no, this wasn’t an actual Mercedes-Benz. It was a toy replica, designed to be piloted by drivers between 3 and 5 years of age. Still, I wondered, what type of ungrateful kid leaves such a vehicle in a public park overnight, knowing another child could just hop in and drive away?
Worse, what parent allows this to happen?
I tried to imagine the scenario: Did the car’s battery die and no toy Mercedes tow trucks were available to assist? This seemed unlikely, since the S63 weighed a mere 33 pounds. Picking it up and putting it in the family car wouldn’t be that difficult.
Or were there other forces at play here? Did another child zoom by in a toy Tesla, featuring a Wi-Fi-enabled touch screen? Did that cause the embarrassed Mercedes owner to throw a tantrum, exiting the vehicle and demanding his cheap parents purchase an immediate upgrade? If I had been that parent, I would have calmly explained the 2023 models hadn’t yet arrived and it would be wise to wait.
When she was 5, my daughter, the aforementioned finger biter, had a Barbie-themed electric car. Purchased for 10 bucks from a yard sale, it was parked in our garage every night. Had she left it anywhere else, rest assured, there would have been consequences.
So, parents, let’s stop coddling our kids. Make them put away their toys and teach them the value of money. Let them know the finer things in life come with responsibilities. They will thank you later.
Even if it means spending time in the royal dungeon.
You are now cured of scrolliosis. That didn’t hurt a bit, did it?
(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)

By Oklahoma When it comes to severe weather, proper preparation and knowing what to do in certain situations can save you and your family’s lives. That’s why I’m encouraging Oklahomans to Get Ready for when—not if—the next disaster happens. Storms in Oklahoma often occur without warning, not leaving you enough time to prepare. Here are three important steps you can take to stay safe during the storm:
1. Take Shelter Immediately
* Go to the basement or storm shelter. Put your family emergency plan into action and check your go-bag in case you must leave in a hurry.
* If you do not have a basement or storm shelter, go to the room at the lowest level in the home (i.e., hallway or bathroom), away from windows and corners where objects tend to collect. Cover yourself with a heavy object such as a mattress or sleeping bag to protect you from broken glass or flying debris.
* Stay in place until you are sure the storm has passed.
2. Stay Weather Informed
* Stay informed on weather updates. Monitor the storm’s progress and listen for warnings from local officials.
* Power outages are highly possible in severe weather. Unplug appliances that are not necessary for obtaining weather updates. Use phones only in an emergency.
* Have multiple sources to stay informed of the evolving conditions—TV and radio, emergency notifications via mobile devices, NOAA Weather Radio, etc. Make sure to have at least one source that does not require electricity.
3. Plan to Evacuate If Necessary
* Before leaving your home or driving anywhere, listen carefully to local weather experts and government officials who will be coordinating evacuation plans.
* Go to higher ground if flash flooding or flooding is possible.
* DO NOT drive into high water. Six inches of water will wash away a person and two feet of water will wash away a car.
* Don’t forget the footwear. It is dangerous to walk outside barefoot because glass and other debris are everywhere during a storm.
To help Oklahomans prepare for this storm season, I’m releasing the three-part column series—Mulready Says Get Ready: Before, During and After the Storm. This comprehensive series will provide general preparedness tips for before, during and after disasters. Visit www.oid.ok.gov/news to check out Part I: Before the Storm. In the next series, I’ll share detailed information on the insurance claim process and how to recover quickly after disasters. Please stay tuned and visit www.oid.ok.gov/getready for more information on how to Get Ready.
If you have questions about other insurance issues, please contact the Oklahoma Insurance Department at 1-800-522-0071 or visit our website at www.oid.ok.gov.
Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready

Nearly 40 Oklahoma middle school math teachers became students again this week, receiving a glimpse into the medical research that results from the passion they instill in students.
OMRF on Tuesday hosted teachers from the Sarkeys Foundation Summer Math Institute at the Oklahoma School for Science and Mathematics. The weeklong program includes teachers from Inola to Mangum and Madill to Sayre.
Scientists at the nonprofit foundation showed them, among other things, research samples from arthritic knee joints of mice and explained how the regenerative qualities of flatworms might someday apply to humans.
OMRF President Andrew S. Weyrich, Ph.D., welcomed the teachers, calling them “the unsung heroes” behind the minds that shape OMRF’s research.
Throughout the year, OMRF hosts students from elementary school through college for various education and outreach programs, Weyrich noted. “We do that in part because we know Oklahoma students are paramount to the future of research.”
OMRF Vice President of Government Affairs Lisa Day, an OSSM board member, helped organize the event.
“It’s gratifying to connect these teachers with a real-world application of the skills they develop in students,” Day said. “Much medical research requires a mastery of math. Their skill and passion for teaching make what scientists do at OMRF possible.”
During their afternoon at OMRF, the teachers split into small groups to visit lab stations staffed by scientists.
Using a microscope and oversized monitor, David Forsthoefel, Ph.D., demonstrated how quickly the flatworms he studies can completely regenerate their organs. He hopes the clues he learns from the tiny worms might lead to new help in treating conditions ranging from bowel disorders to paralysis.
“We study the flatworms because we hope to learn their secrets,” Forsthoefel told the teachers.
Beggs Middle School teacher Carol Creason called her trip to OMRF “tremendously helpful. It shows how important mathematics is to all sorts of jobs outside of the traditional math field of study.”
Creason was so impressed with Forsthoefel’s presentation that she plans to include flatworms in future lessons.
“I normally use bean plants so they can chart growth, but now I’m going to have them chart regenerative growth in flatworms,” she said. “They’d have a blast.”

By Tonya Cater, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in Arkansas

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was June 15. On that day, communities, seniors, caregivers, governments, organizations, and the private sector united to prevent the mistreatment of and violence against older people.
Social Security scams are widespread across the United States. Scammers use sophisticated tactics to deceive you into providing sensitive information or money. They target everyone – especially the elderly – and their tactics continue to evolve.
Here are five easy-to-use resources to prevent Social Security fraud:
* Check out our Fraud Prevention and Reporting page to learn about Social Security fraud – and how we fight scammers at www.ssa.gov/fraud. * Read our Scam Alert fact sheet to learn what tactics scammers use and how to protect yourself at www.ssa.gov/fraud/assets/materials/EN-05-10597.pdf.
* Create your own personal my Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount to stay one step ahead of scammers. Please read our blog post at blog.ssa.gov/my-social-security-what-to-know-about-signing-up-or-signing-in for more information about creating or signing in to your personal my Social Security account. * Learn about other types of fraud on our Office of the Inspector General’s (OIG) Scam Awareness page at oig.ssa.gov/scam-awareness/scam-alert. You’ll also see how to report these scams to our OIG and other government agencies.
* Read our blog post to learn how to guard your Social Security card – and protect your personal information at blog.ssa.gov/guard-your-card-protect-whats-important-to-you/.
Please share this information with your friends and family to help spread awareness about Social Security imposter scams.

The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) recently announced that 22 INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Clinics earned Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Recognition renewal.
The clinics received the initial recognition for using evidence-based, patient-centered processes that focus on highly coordinated care and long-term, participative relationships.
The facilities receiving the PCMH Certificate of Recognition renewal are listed below:
INTEGRIS Family First Miami, INTEGRIS Family Practice Miami, INTEGRIS Grove Family Practice, INTEGRIS Grove Primary Care, INTEGRIS Internal Medicine Clinic, INTEGRIS Internal Medicine & Pediatric Associates, INTEGRIS Miami Physicians Clinic, INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Baptist, INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Central, INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Coffee Creek, INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Council Crossing, INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Edmond East, INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Edmond Renaissance, INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Lake Pointe, INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Memorial West, INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Moore, INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Mustang, INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Norman, INTEGRIS Health Medical Group South, INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Southwest, INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Surrey Hills, INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Yukon
The NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home is a model of primary care that combines teamwork and information technology to improve care, improve patients’ experience of care and reduce costs. Medical homes foster ongoing partnerships between patients and their personal clinicians, instead of approaching care as the sum of episodic office visits. Each patient’s care is overseen by clinician-led care teams that coordinate treatment across the health care system. Research shows that medical homes can lead to higher quality and lower costs and can improve patient and provider reported experiences of care.

On Saturday, July 9, 2022, the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum and the Oklahoma Route 66 Association will host the Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and the opening of a new exhibit, “Route 66 Transitions, 1981–1991: Jerry McClanahan’s First Decade of Route 66 Photography.” This event is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be provided.
Beginning at 2 p.m., the Oklahoma Route 66 Association will induct two special Oklahomans into the Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame. Inductions are held every two years for individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the promotion or preservation of Route 66. The winners’ plaques will be unveiled with the others on display in the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum’s Hall of Fame, located in the WOW! exhibit room.
Immediately following the induction, the museum will hold an opening for the “Route 66 Transitions, 1981–1991: Jerry McClanahan’s First Decade of Route 66 Photography” exhibit. McClanahan is a noted Route 66 authority, artist and photographer. He first began photographing and mapping the route in 1981 on a trip from Texas back to visit his boyhood home in southern California. McClanahan captured many lost and forgotten scenes during this decade of decline and revival, some of which are presented in this exhibit for the first time.
The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum is located at 2229 W. Gary Blvd. in Clinton. The museum galleries present the history and legends of Route 66 through the decades. For additional information, please contact Pat Smith at 580-323-7866 or email [email protected].
The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society. The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit www.okhistory.org.

Story and photo by Darl DeVault, Contributing Editor

Since its inception in 2001, Mark Bravo, 64, has added color commentary to the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon’s live television broadcast on KFOR-Channel 4 locally while actively supporting the race throughout the year and on marathon weekend. From hosting the event’s two-day Health and Fitness Expo to helping with invited legends of the sport coming to the race to inspire runners both at the Expo and all weekend, Bravo has devoted hundreds of hours to the event over the years.
He takes great pride in making sure its national reputation as the “Run to Remember” leaves participants with two distinct emotions. The first is to bring together runners and spectators from around the world to honor those who were killed, those who survived and those who were changed forever in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. Another source of pride the race has fostered is to treat runners and walkers to many extras not available at most marathons. This makes each person feel like an “elite” participant because of the on-course support from a massive outpouring of cheering and volunteering OKC residents. (story continues below)

The marathon weekend’s amenities in April, and the race itself, punctuates what has become known as the “Oklahoma Standard.” Oklahoma City offers an outpouring of volunteerism and an Expo that assists runners and walkers in getting fired up for their big day, no matter what event they seek to accomplish.
A highly anticipated aspect of the Expo is interaction with Hall of Famers from the sport who speak about their experiences in and out of the sport and training expertise to help ease runners’ minds before their race. Some years Bravo’s duties included recruiting marathon luminaries for the weekend, some of whom were literally at the forefront of the “running boom” in America in the ’70s and ’80s. The Expo’s “Legends Booth” hosts some of the best American runners ever.
This year saw National Track and Field Hall of Famers like four-time Boston and New York Marathon winner Bill Rodgers and Hall of Famer and Olympic Marathon Champion Joan Benoit Samuelson attend. Famed marathoner Dick Beardsley spoke at the Expo. Also speaking was world record-holder and double amputee marathoner Marco Cheseto. Oklahoman Dan Little, 78, spoke about trying to run seven marathons, in seven days, on seven continents later this year, a feat he succeeded in doing just two years ago.
With Bravo’s broadcast journalism training from the University of Oklahoma, he joins KFOR’s Kevin Ogle and Linda Cavanaugh in anchoring live television coverage of the Sunday marathon on-air and online beginning at 6 a.m. each year. As an experienced marathoner himself, he describes the events from the runners’ point of view and offers background on the many elite and “ordinary” runners.
“I’m humbled to be a part of this race, and to offer color commentary on race day gives me a chance to provide insight into road racing. I describe the mindset of all levels of athletes who participate and the importance of this race to Oklahoma, not only in April but all year long,” Bravo said in an interview. “I’m fortunate to have a lot of engagement with athletes of all abilities throughout the year. The connection to the community has made it one of my great pleasures to help document every OKC Memorial Marathon.”
Bravo is a freelance writer, broadcaster and nationally-noted road race announcer who has finished almost 50 marathons in his 40-plus years in the sport. He speaks at countless sports-focused venues on building momentum in one’s life. Bravo has coached runners for the last two decades, and his view of mental and physical wellness is detailed in his well-received book: “Momentum: 77 Observations Toward a Life Well Lived.”
Bravo’s definition of an “athlete” has less to do with physical prowess but more about a few principles: “It’s viewing the world and yourself through a ‘kinder, gentler’ lens, an always existent ‘stick-to-it-iveness,’ strong view that the glass is ‘three-quarters full, not half-empty,’ and an ever-present emphasis on gratitude. Through these principles and how we share them, each of us raises the calibration of the entire world!”
He stays intricately involved with the running community locally in his position at OK RUNNER OKC in downtown Oklahoma City. Bravo and his wife, Leslie, live in Edmond, Okla.
The event that some years hosts more than 25,000 runners and walkers from every state and several foreign countries starts at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. The course goes through Bricktown, by the Capitol Complex, Nichols Hills, and several of Oklahoma City’s historic neighborhoods. Along with thousands of eager volunteers helping on the routes, the participants see 168 banners bearing the names of the 1995 bombing victims.
Participants are offered a marathon, half marathon, marathon relay (5 member teams), 5K, Kids marathon and a wheelchair division. Runners can secure a place in the Boston Marathon at this qualifying event.
The event is the Museum’s largest fundraiser as the sole beneficiary of the proceeds to support its year-round operation. It honors the victims, survivors, rescuers, and all affected by the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1995. Many runners and walkers visit it during their time in Oklahoma City for the event.
The staging of an event of this magnitude requires the cooperation of many partners. There is a massive outpouring of help from the City of Oklahoma City, its Police and Fire Departments and the medical community. Community resources and safety are also provided by Nichols Hills and other parts of the courses, such as the Capitol Complex.
The volunteer race medical staff has a stellar reputation nationwide in road racing circles, especially for the fully equipped medical facility and the quality of care provided at the finish line. University of Oklahoma College of Medicine volunteers have set that standard. Volunteer communications personnel are positioned at intervals along the course to keep the fully-equipped medical team of professionals aware of events all over the course.
“Nationally and on social media, the running community has a lot to say about what is considered a great event,” Bravo said. “Many runners will come to our event for the first time due to the premise. With so many marathons available, they won’t return if the efficiency isn’t in there. I hear runner’s accounts to other runners every year when I visit other cities’ marathon expos: ‘You have to run this race (OKC Memorial Marathon). It’s the best race I’ve ever done! They treat you like you’re the most special runner there.’ We take great pride in that endorsement.”
In its continuing tradition of making the event memorable, a new feature was added this year. Any runner setting a personal record during the event could celebrate by ringing the new Personal Record Bell near the finish line in Scissortail Park. The bell was on the Oklahoma City Fire Department’s Truck 55, which provided aid after the 1995 bombing. An original stone from the Murrah Federal Building is set beneath the bell’s commemorative plaque.
After working the race for more than two decades, Bravo continues to exude class. After his broadcast work was over, Mark was still there this year. He announced athletes to their finishes and high-fived many, including the last official finisher, a 78-year-old male from Virginia, as he crossed the finish line almost seven hours after the start at 6:40:44. Bravo says he counts those experiences as much as the elite performances as the “real stories” of the race.

Dear Savvy Senior,

I’m planning to enroll in original Medicare in a few months and have been told I probably need to get a Medicare supplemental policy too. Can you offer any tips on selecting one? Almost 65

Dear Almost,
If you’re enrolling in original Medicare, getting a supplemental policy (also known as Medigap insurance) too is a smart idea because it will help pay for things that aren’t covered by Medicare like copayments, coinsurance and the Part A deductible. Here are some tips to help you choose an appropriate plan.
Medigap Plans
In all but three states (Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin), Medigap plans, which are sold by private health insurers, are available to new enrollees in eight different standardized plans. These plans are labeled with the letters A, B, D, G, K, L, M and N, with two more, C and F, that are only available to those eligible for Medicare before 2020.
Plan G is the most popular policy among new enrollees because it covers the most comprehensive range of benefits. Monthly premiums for Plan G typically range between $100 and $300, depending on your age and the state you reside in. If that’s more than you’re willing to pay, there are also high-deductible plans that have lower premiums but impose higher out-of-pocket costs. (story continues below)

For more information on the different types of plans and coverage details, including Medigap options in Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, go to Medicare.gov/publications and type in “choosing a medigap policy” in the Keyword box, and download their 2022 guide. Or call 1-800-MEDICARE and ask them to mail you a copy.
How to Choose
To pick a Medigap policy that works best for you, consider your health, family medical history and your budget. The differences among plans can be small and rather confusing.
To help you choose, visit Medicare.gov/medigap-supplemental-insurance-plans and type in your ZIP code. This will give you a list of the plans available in your area, their price ranges and the names, and contact information of companies that sell them. But to get specific pricing information, you’ll need to contact the carriers directly or call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program. See ShipHelp.org or call 877-839-2675 for contact information.
Since all Medigap policies with the same letter must cover the exact same benefits (it’s required by law), you should shop for the cheapest policy.
You’ll get the best price if you sign up within six months after enrolling in Medicare Part B. During this open-enrollment period, an insurer cannot refuse to sell you a policy or charge you more because of your health.
You also need to be aware of the pricing methods, which will affect your costs. Medigap policies are usually sold as either: “community-rated” where everyone in an area is charged the same premium regardless of age; “issue-age-rated” that is based on your age when you buy the policy, but will only increase due to inflation, not age; and “attained-age-rated,” that starts premiums low but increases as you age. Community-rate and issue-age-rated policies are the best options because they will save you money in the long run.
You can buy the plan directly from an insurance company, or you can work with a reputable insurance broker.
Drug Coverage
You also need to know that Medigap policies do not cover prescription drugs, so if you don’t have drug coverage, you’ll need to buy a separate Medicare Part D drug plan too. See Medicare.gov/plan-compare to compare plans. Also note that Medigap plans do not cover vision, dental care, hearing aids or long-term care.
Alternative Option
Instead of getting original Medicare, plus a Medigap policy and a separate Part D drug plan, you could sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan (see medicare.gov/plan-compare) that provides all-in-one coverage. These plans, which are sold by insurance companies, are generally available through HMOs and PPOs that require you to get your care within a network of doctors.
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.