Sarah Hazen Stitt Explained

Sarah Hazen Stitt
Term Label:Assumed role
Status:Current
Birth Name:Sarah Hazen
Term Start:January 14, 2019
Birth Date:27 January 1978
Birth Place:Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.

Sarah Hazen Stitt is an American businesswoman who has served as the First Lady of Oklahoma since 2019.

Early life and career

Sarah Hazen grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma and was homeschooled until she was a teenager when she first attended public schools. Growing up, her mother suffered from mental health problems, but refused treatment due to social stigmas. Her mother attempted suicide and her siblings had drug addictions. Her father also developed mental health problems during this time. Sarah cites her childhood experience as motivation for her mental health advocacy.[1] She founded Gateway Mortgage, alongside her husband, Kevin Stitt, and worked there for twenty years.[2]

First Lady of Oklahoma

Sarah Stitt became the First Lady of Oklahoma when her husband Kevin Stitt was sworn in Governor of Oklahoma on January 14, 2019.[3] She was credited with improving her husband's approval with women voters during his 2018 election campaign.[4] During her tenure, she has focused on mental health.[5] In 2020, she led a fundraising campaign for a non-profit that focuses on preventing child abuse.[6] Later that year she assisted with the restoration of the Book of Redemption for Vernon A.M.E. Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma.[7] [8]

Sarah Stitt Act

In 2021, Oklahoma HB 1679 was named the "Sarah Stitt Act" after the first lady. The bill provided state identification documents to prison inmates that do not have one.[9] The bill was sponsored by Representatives Brian Hill and Marilyn Stark.[10] In the first year after its passage, the Oklahoma Department of Corrections found more than 1,300 birth certificates for inmates.[11]

Personal life

Sarah met Kevin Stitt in the summer of 1997 at a church service.[12] The couple married on June 1, 1998.[13] They have six children. She is a member of the Republican Party.[14]

Notes and References

  1. News: Sarah Stitt: Oklahoma’s First Lady - MetroFamily Magazine . 14 October 2023 . Metro Family Magazine.
  2. Web site: First Lady Sarah Stitt . oklahoma.gov . . 14 October 2023 . en.
  3. News: Stitt takes office, promises new state pride. Felder. Ben. The Daily Oklahoman. January 14, 2019. January 15, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190114235712/https://newsok.com/article/5620223/stitt-takes-office-promises-new-state-pride. January 14, 2019. live.
  4. News: Felder . Ben . Rural vote helped Stitt win governor's race . 14 October 2023 . . November 11, 2018.
  5. News: Bryen . Whitney . Sarah Stitt: Growing up in a home with mental illness . 14 October 2023 . NonDoc . . 12 October 2019.
  6. News: Forman . Carmen . First Lady Sarah Stitt raising money to prevent child abuse . 14 October 2023 . . September 3, 2020.
  7. News: Hinton . Carla . First lady partners with Museum of the Bible to restore historic book for Tulsa church . 14 October 2023 . . June 2, 2021.
  8. News: Museum of the Bible will receive award for restoration of historic Tulsa church's donor ledger . 14 October 2023 . . August 21, 2021.
  9. News: Douglass . Kaylee . ‘Sarah Stitt Act’ to issue IDs to Oklahoma inmates impending release unanimously passes Senate . 14 October 2023 . . 13 April 2021.
  10. News: Krisai . Lauren . Guest: Oklahoma shows a commitment to criminal justice reforms . 14 October 2023 . . February 7, 2023 . Opinion.
  11. News: Felder . Ben . More Oklahomans are being released from prison. Now what? . 14 October 2023 . . July 12, 2022.
  12. News: Casteel . Chris . "Serious kid" sets sights on serving as chief executive of Oklahoma . 14 October 2023 . . September 30, 2018.
  13. Stitt . Kevin . GovStitt . 1134874094581821440 . June 1, 2019 . For our 21st anniversary, the First Lady and I went fly fishing this morning in the beautiful Beaver Bend state park. #OklaProud @TravelOK . en . December 31, 2022.
  14. News: Forman . Carmen . She became a Democrat to run for Oklahoma governor. Her husband remains a registered Republican. . 14 October 2023 . . September 13, 2022.

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