Peggy C. Stephenson
Peggy C. Stephenson
“With Peggy Stephenson, everything begins and ends with her love and concern for others.”
Biography
Peggy Clark Stephenson was born and raised in Antlers. It was here that she met Charles Stephenson. The two began dating in high school and were married Charlie’s junior year at the University of Oklahoma. They celebrated 57 years of marriage the year of her induction and were partners in all aspects of life—faith, family, work and charitable activities.
In 2014, Peggy was serving as executive director of the Charles and Peggy Stephenson Family Foundation, providing support to a number of church, community, education, and health programs throughout Oklahoma. She also co-managed their personal philanthropic activities which, combined with the outreach of the family foundation, supports projects that can make a significant difference. These projects include the Stephenson Research and Technology Center and the Stephenson Life Science Research Center both on the University of Oklahoma’s rapidly expanding Research Campus and the Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center at the Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City. With her husband, she made the lead gift for the major renovation and expansion of Tulsa’s First Presbyterian Church and the new College of Engineering building at the University of Tulsa.
Volunteering is important. The First Presbyterian Church, American Red Cross, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, American Cancer Society, Philbrook Museum of Art, and Girl Scouts have benefited greatly from her time and talents. She also has served on the board of Goodland Academy near Hugo.
Recognized for her efforts, Peggy twice has been named honorary chairwoman for “Tulsa Project Woman,” a program that provides breast cancer screenings and education to women with limited financial resources. She has received the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Award, National Jewish Medical Research Center Tulsa Humanitarian Award, and the Dean’s Award for Distinguished Community Service at the Oklahoma College of Medicine. She has been inducted into the College of Engineering and Natural Science Hall of Fame at the University of Tulsa and the Tulsa Hall of Fame. The University of Oklahoma has bestowed on her an Honorary Doctorate Degree.
Among Peggy’s favorite hobbies is genealogy and she has volunteered her time at various Tulsa libraries to aide others in researching their ancestors. A former board member of the Tulsa Historical Society, she made possible the conversion of the west lawn to the Vintage Gardens and the 5-Moons Native American Bronze Ballerinas area.
Fun fact
Stephenson was selected Miss Pushmataha in Antlers in 1955 and as football queen her senior year in high school in 1956.
Oklahoma connections
Stephenson was born in Antlers, Oklahoma.