University of Oklahoma regents voted Wednesday to name a $20 million clinic planned for north Tulsa after former Sooner basketball star Wayman Tisdale.
Regents also approved design development plans for the 50,000-square-foot University of Oklahoma Wayman Tisdale Health Center that university President David Boren said will be located in a part of Tulsa that lacks adequate numbers of doctors and specialists. Construction on the clinic is set to start by year’s end.
Tisdale died in his hometown of Tulsa on May 15 at age 44, after a two-year battle with cancer. He played for the Sooners for three seasons and in 1983 became the first freshman to be a first-team All-American since freshmen were allowed to play again in the 1971-72 season. He eventually became one of 10 three-time All-Americans.
Tisdale went on to play 12 seasons in the NBA with the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns. The 6-foot-9 left-handed forward averaged 15.3 points for his career. He also was on the U.S. team that won the gold medal in the 1984 Olympics.
In April, Tisdale was chosen for induction into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. He also was an award-winning jazz musician, recording eight albums. His “Way Up!” release debuted in July 2006 and spent four weeks as the No. 1 contemporary jazz album. His hits included “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now,” “Can’t Hide Love” and “Don’t Take Your Love Away.”
Tisdale’s brother Weldon, a minister in Tulsa, attended Wednesday’s meeting and said his brother would have been “floored” by such an honor from his alma mater.
“He was one that was not enamored with fame,” Weldon Tisdale said. “He always considered himself just to be on the same plane, the same level, with everyone. He considered everyone to be his friend.”
Boren said the funding for the clinic was secured in late 2007. Of the $20 million, $6 million was appropriated by the state Legislature, $4 million came from other state agencies and the rest came from private sources.
Boren said Wayman Tisdale was aware before he died that the university was considering naming the clinic after him.
“Wayman had such a positive impact in our community and many people looked up to him,” Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor said. “This is a great honor for Tulsa to have the University of Oklahoma north Tulsa specialty clinic named after one of Tulsa’s finest.”
Boren said the areas to be served by the clinic contain 25 percent of Tulsa’s population but only 4 percent of the medical specialists needed in the area. The clinic will offer services including urgent care, cardiology, advanced MRI and CT services, outpatient surgery, endoscopy and chemotherapy.
“I believe it has the potential of making a major difference,” Weldon Tisdale said. “Just the difference in life expectancy between that particular area and five miles, six miles from there is 14 years. I think it’s going to address some needed issues. It’s astronomical the possibilities of increasing the life expectancy in the community.”
He said the Tisdale family has been buoyed by the outpouring of support since his brother’s death, not just from Oklahoma “but from around the country and even around the world.” He said the family even received condolences from President Barack Obama.
“We knew he was special, but I don’t think we really knew how special he was,” Weldon Tisdale said. “And we knew he touched lives, but I don’t think we knew to what extent and the magnitude that he touched lives.”
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University of Oklahoma regents voted Wednesday to name a $20 million clinic planned for north Tulsa after former Sooner basketball star Wayman Tisdale.
Regents also approved design development plans for the 50,000-square-foot University of Oklahoma Wayman Tisdale Health Center that university President David Boren said will be located in a part of Tulsa that lacks adequate numbers of doctors and specialists. Construction on the clinic is set to start by year’s end.
Tisdale died in his hometown of Tulsa on May 15 at age 44, after a two-year battle with cancer. He played for the Sooners for three seasons and in 1983 became the first freshman to be a first-team All-American since freshmen were allowed to play again in the 1971-72 season. He eventually became one of 10 three-time All-Americans.
Tisdale went on to play 12 seasons in the NBA with the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns. The 6-foot-9 left-handed forward averaged 15.3 points for his career. He also was on the U.S. team that won the gold medal in the 1984 Olympics.
In April, Tisdale was chosen for induction into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. He also was an award-winning jazz musician, recording eight albums. His “Way Up!” release debuted in July 2006 and spent four weeks as the No. 1 contemporary jazz album. His hits included “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now,” “Can’t Hide Love” and “Don’t Take Your Love Away.”
Tisdale’s brother Weldon, a minister in Tulsa, attended Wednesday’s meeting and said his brother would have been “floored” by such an honor from his alma mater.
“He was one that was not enamored with fame,” Weldon Tisdale said. “He always considered himself just to be on the same plane, the same level, with everyone. He considered everyone to be his friend.”
Boren said the funding for the clinic was secured in late 2007. Of the $20 million, $6 million was appropriated by the state Legislature, $4 million came from other state agencies and the rest came from private sources.
Boren said Wayman Tisdale was aware before he died that the university was considering naming the clinic after him.
“Wayman had such a positive impact in our community and many people looked up to him,” Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor said. “This is a great honor for Tulsa to have the University of Oklahoma north Tulsa specialty clinic named after one of Tulsa’s finest.”
Boren said the areas to be served by the clinic contain 25 percent of Tulsa’s population but only 4 percent of the medical specialists needed in the area. The clinic will offer services including urgent care, cardiology, advanced MRI and CT services, outpatient surgery, endoscopy and chemotherapy.
“I believe it has the potential of making a major difference,” Weldon Tisdale said. “Just the difference in life expectancy between that particular area and five miles, six miles from there is 14 years. I think it’s going to address some needed issues. It’s astronomical the possibilities of increasing the life expectancy in the community.”
He said the Tisdale family has been buoyed by the outpouring of support since his brother’s death, not just from Oklahoma “but from around the country and even around the world.” He said the family even received condolences from President Barack Obama.
“We knew he was special, but I don’t think we really knew how special he was,” Weldon Tisdale said. “And we knew he touched lives, but I don’t think we knew to what extent and the magnitude that he touched lives.”
