Midwest City DECA Makes Guinness World Record

Volume 38

Number 1

Winter 2007

By Lauren Merryman
Oklahoma Department of CareerTech

DECA members surpassed the world record Jan. 16, for the most people wearing Groucho Marx glasses at one time. The event was held at a Hornets’ game for the fund-raiser, DECA Goes Groucho Against Cancer.

About 1,750 students, fans, Hornets (players) and Honeybees (cheerleaders) participated in breaking the record by wearing the Groucho Marx glasses. More than $2,275 was raised for the Oklahoma Children’s Cancer Association by the Midwest City High School DECA chapter.

Midwest City’s DECA is the CareerTech student organization for high school sophomores, juniors and seniors interested in studying marketing, management and entrepreneurship in business, finance, hospitality and marketing sales and service.

Dawn Boland's DECA members at Midwest City High School often brainstorm to find new and exciting ideas to raise money. The day, “Worlds Largest Pillow Fight to Save the Rain Forest” was written on the board, everyone laughed, then started looking into breaking records, Boland said.

“We decided to attempt to beat the world record for the most people wearing Groucho Marx glasses at one time,” Boland said.

Three DECA members volunteered to organize the event. Gina Muscari, Jade McCool and Susan Wessel managed and developed the idea as a public relations campaign, which they plan to use in the state DECA competition in February.

Three DECA members model their Groucho Marx glasses.

DECA members model their Groucho Marx glasses.

Last May the students applied for recognition in the Guinness Book of World Records in London, then started to work.

The students met with the Hornets Group Sales Account Executive Tony Garrett months prior to the event to get permission and work out the details.

“About 2,300 DECA members from around the state planned to attend but because of the ice storm, only 200 to 300 students participated at the game,” Boland said. “But the fans and players made up the difference.”

The Hornets helped raise awareness by playing videos on the screen with announcements about the event and where to buy the glasses. Players and cheerleaders even wore the glasses.

The Midwest City DECA chapter’s application to be recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records was accepted. They now hold the world record for the most people wearing Groucho Marx glasses at one time.

“Through this project we have learned that with helpful hands and a positive attitude anyone can change a bad situation into a positive one,” said McCool.

“Hopefully another group will attempt to conduct a project like ours, it is a wonderful life-changing experience.”