Catherine Heller Keating

Catherine Dunn Heller Keating (born September 18, 1950) is an American author, philanthropist, and politician who served as the First Lady of Oklahoma from 1995 to 2003.

Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Keating married Frank Keating and became the First Lady of Oklahoma when he was elected Governor of Oklahoma. During her tenure she organized official ceremonies after the Oklahoma City bombing and ran for the United States House of Representatives in a 2002 special election. She was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2011 and the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame in 2023.

Early life and education Catherine Dunn Heller was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Harvey Augustus Heller Jr. and Frances Herndon. She attended the University of Oklahoma and majored in elementary education. She was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. She was crowned "Miss Wool" of Oklahoma, Missouri, and Arkansas by Lieutenant Governor George Nigh. In 1972 she married Francis Anthony Keating II. The couple had three children, including Chip Keating.

2001 Congressional campaign In April 2001 Keating announced her campaign for Oklahoma's 1st congressional district to succeed Steve Largent. She advanced to a run-off alongside John Sullivan, but withdrew from the race citing a desire to not campaign negatively. Her husband Frank Keating controversially called Tulsans "very dumb" for not supporting his wife's campaign.

Electoral history