Shelia Dills

Biography

This candidate does not have a Democratic opponent and will therefore serve as the next Representative for this district.

Sheila (Luginbuel) Dills grew up in Vinita, Oklahoma. Her family owns a 93-year-old multi-generational funeral service business in towns across Northeastern Oklahoma.

As funeral service professionals, Sheila’s parents instilled in her the importance of professionalism, public service and living a life according to the teachings of Jesus Christ. Sheila grew up in the First United Methodist Church in Vinita where she was a frequent acolyte. Her mother sang in the choir and was her junior choir director, while Sheila’s father served on the Board of Trustees for decades. Sheila’s statement of faith is based on the Apostles Creed that she learned as a child, and her life is centered on serving God through serving others with love, kindness and grace. Sheila now attends Asbury United Methodist Church with God the single most important part of her life.

After graduating from high school, Sheila was offered a scholarship to play golf at Oklahoma State University. Where she had a successful career on the course and in the classroom graduating with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. Following college, she worked in the residential real estate business and owned a retail home design store and business while raising her daughter and nurturing a blended family with special needs.

Sheila’s community service involves serving 8 years on the Board of Directors of the Women’s Oklahoma Golf Association, including the last four in which she served as President and is the current Immediate Past President. During her time of service, Sheila led the way in converting the 101-year-old organization from a social organization into a 501c(3) public charity. She developed successful programs such as a scholarship program for high school seniors, a grants program for underfunded Oklahoma high schools, and a grass roots program to introduce young women to the game of golf. In 2016, the City of Tulsa appointed her to a steering committee to offer solutions for an area of Tulsa with very high concentrations of crime and poverty. Sheila immediately saw a need and founded a 501c(3) non-profit for at-risk youth called Tulsa Midnight Basketball for which she is currently serving as the Executive Director. Tulsa Midnight Basketball is a development program that offers nutritional services, life skills workshops and recreation for underprivileged youth. She has also served on local, state and national boards of directors, including the First Tee, the Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame, The South Tulsa Community House, The Tulsa Fraternal Order of Police Benevolent Fund and The American Cancer Society. Sheila is a strong supporter of the Collegiate Women’s Golf Ministry. She has chaired many committees, events, and fundraisers. Sheila is a member of the Jenks Optimist Club, the Tulsa Republican Women’s Club, and the NRA.

Sheila was blessed to be married to the love of her life, Joey Dills for 27 years before he passed away from cancer in 2019. Joey was a wonderful husband and father as well as a successful commercial insurance agent. Their daughter, Annie, is married and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Bio-Medicine at The University of Oklahoma. Their oldest son, William, is married and is an attorney in Houston, Texas. Their youngest son, Joey, is a special-needs adult who lives in Tulsa. Sheila has two precious granddaughters, Isabelle and Mallory, and her first grandson is on the way. And her first grandson Remington was born in May.

Platform Issues

Economic Development

There needs to be an improved strategy for increasing economic development within the state of Oklahoma. Economic development cannot happen without a clear, distinct vision of how to generate economic prosperity. Sheila is devoted to providing our future leaders with the resources to benefit from the economic growth that our state desperately needs.

Community Growth

Sheila is supportive of upkeeping and restoring our environment as well as our community. She believes it is essential to raise up our children in a traditional sense and to not let our government erode the values we are currently instilling within our children's' lives.

Education

It is no doubt that the power of education as an institution is foundational for our economy as well as for the development of our state. Sheila is committed to ensuring we have quality, hardworking individuals within our workforce, attractive incentives for the growth of businesses, and a robust educational system for Oklahomans. This cannot happen without the presence of the right educational institutions, which is why Sheila is devoted to providing a stable and solid education system.

Mental Health and Criminal Justice Reform

Within the state of Oklahoma, the necessity to diminish crime is crucial. Sheila is committed to attacking the root of the problem by increasing mental health awareness within Oklahoma and by investing in mental health programs for the prevention of crimes. There needs to be a reevaluation of how to distinguish criminals from people who need assistance from the community. Sheila is confident that if we provide resources for mental health awareness, our state will be better equipped at circumventing crime.