The University of Oklahoma-Tulsa Wayman Tisdale Specialty Health Clinic celebrated the opening of an education center Tuesday that will honor the clinic’s namesake as well as his foundation.
Tisdale, a Booker T. Washington standout, went on to be a college basketball star at OU and played 12 years in the NBA. He was also a renowned jazz musician.
In 2008, part of Tisdale’s right leg was amputated because of bone cancer and he was fitted with a prosthetic. After that, the Wayman Tisdale Foundation was established to focus on health education and helping others afford prosthetics. Tisdale died in 2009.
Mia Fleming, a friend of Tisdale’s who now helps the foundation as a consultant, said he was a man who cared deeply about helping others.
“When you come into this center, we want you to see the vision that he had,” she said.
People are also reading…
The north Tulsa clinic opened in August 2012 with an aim of locating more doctors in that part of town and allowing Tulsans there to have easier access to specialists.
The new education center has a floor painted to look like a basketball court, and one wall is a collage made from photos of Tisdale and his family. Multiple awards Tisdale received are displayed, as well as two of his bass guitars.
OU-Tulsa President Dr. Gerard Clancy said the center establishes a place for the foundation and allows Tisdale’s story to live on.
“He had a life very well-lived,” Clancy said.
Tisdale’s wife, Regina Tisdale, said the idea for the foundation came when she and Tisdale discovered the expense of acquiring a prosthetic and that it’s not always fully covered by health insurance.
“We realized it was a very expensive road,” she said.
The foundation has now assisted six people who needed help affording a prosthesis.
State Sen. Jabar Schumate said he recalled becoming excited when he first learned the clinic was to be named after Tisdale because he brought people together and wanted to help heal them.
“He had the ability to really make people feel better,” he said.
Tisdale’s brother, the Rev. Weldon Tisdale, said the basketball star influenced his life in ways he never knew.
“It’s a great day and we’re excited for this facility,” he said.
