The Twenty-fifth Oklahoma Legislature was a meeting of the legislative branch of the government of Oklahoma, composed of the Oklahoma Senate and the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The state legislature met in regular session at the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City from January 4 to May 27, 1955, during the term of Governor Raymond D. Gary.A Century to Remember , Oklahoma House of Representatives (accessed June 16, 2013) Gary had just served as President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate during the previous session. He was replaced by Ray Fine, who took over as presiding officer of the Oklahoma Senate. Bill Harkey was elected Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives and was the first speaker to serve two consecutive terms.
During the 1955 session, the state legislature approved a legislative referendum to end school segregation, in response to the 1954 Brown v. Topeka Board of Education. It was approved by voters in 1956 by a 3-1 margin.
Dates of session January 4 to May 27, 1955 Previous: 24th Legislature • Next: 26th Legislature
Party composition
Senate AffiliationParty (Shading indicates majority caucus)TotalDemocraticRepublican 39 5 44Voting share88.6%11.4%
House of Representatives AffiliationParty (Shading indicates majority caucus)TotalDemocraticRepublican 102 19 121Voting share84.3%15.7%
Major legislation Desegregation - House Joint Resolution 504 created a legislative referendum to end school segregation, in response to the 1954 Brown v. Topeka Board of Education. It was approved by voters in 1956 by a 3-1 margin.
Leadership
Democratic Senate President Pro Tem: Ray Fine Speaker of the House: B.E. Bill Harkey Speaker Pro Tempore: Floyd Sumrall Majority Floor Leader: James Bullard
Republican Minority Leader: W.A. Burton Jr.
Staff Carl Staas was the chief clerk of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
Members
Senate District Name Party1 Leon B. Field Dem2 Charles M. Wilson Dem2 Sterling S. McColgin Dem3 Ben Easterly Dem4 Basil Wilson Dem5 D. L. Jones Dem6 Carl Max Cook Dem6 Byron Dacus Dem7 Stanley Coppock Rep8 Floyd Carrier Rep9 Roy Grantham Rep10 J. L. Maltsberger Rep11 Everett Collins Dem12 Carl Morgan Rep13 Oliver Walker Dem13 Boyd Cowden Dem14 Jim A. Rinehart Dem14 George Miskovsky Dem15 Walt Allen Dem15 Don Baldwin Dem16 Roy C. Boecher Dem17 Harold Garvin Dem17 Bill Logan Dem18 Fred Chapman Dem19 Virgil Young Dem19 Herbert Hope Dem20 Keith Cartwright Dem21 Clem Hamilton Dem22 Paul Ballinger Dem23 Glen Collins Dem24 Leroy McClendon Dem25 Kirksey M. Nix Dem26 Gene Herndon Dem27 Harold Shoemake Dem27 Howard Young Dem28 Ray Fine Dem29 Buck Dendy Dem30 Jess Fronterhouse Dem31 Arthur Price Rep32 John W. Russell Jr. Dem33 Clem McSpadden Dem34 Frank Mahan Dem35 Bob Trent Dem36 Bruce Frazier Dem Table based on 2005 Oklahoma Almanac.2005 Oklahoma Almanac , p. 763-764. (accessed July 9, 2013)
House of Representatives Name Party CountyW. H. Langley Dem AdairTom Morford Rep AlfalfaJoseph Payton Dem AtokaFloyd Sumrall Dem BeaverH. F. Carmichael Dem BeckhamJ. L. Edgecomb Dem BlaineRaney Arnold Dem BryanHarry J. W. Belvin Dem BryanRobert Lawson Goodfellow Dem CaddoCharley Long Dem CaddoJean Pazoureck Dem CanadianJohn T. Tipps Dem CarterHarley Venters Dem CarterJack Bliss Dem CherokeeLucien Spear Dem ChoctawCarl Etling Rep CimarronRobert L. Bailey Dem ClevelandLeland Wolf Dem ClevelandDelbert Inman Dem CoalCharles Ozmun Dem ComancheGithen Rhoads Dem ComancheJim Taliaferro Dem ComancheW. B. Nelson Dem CottonGeorge Pitcher Dem CraigLou Stockton Allard Dem CreekHeber Finch Dem CreekWilliam Shibley Dem CreekClarence Sweeney Dem CusterCarl Thomas Mustain Dem DelawareJ. B. Graybill Dem DeweyA.R. Larason Dem EllisJohn Camp Rep GarfieldRichard Romang Rep GarfieldJesse Daniel Dem GarvinGlen Ham Dem GarvinJefferson Lee Davis Dem GradyJohn A. Lance Dem GradyA. E. Green Dem Grant Elmo Hurst Dem GreerDale Kite Dem HarmonJ. E. Bouse Dem HarperEdward Chunings Dem HaskellHugh Sandlin Dem HughesGuy Horton Dem JacksonBill Bradley Dem JeffersonCharles Norris Dem JohnstonGuy Bailey Dem KayRaymond Craig Rep KayWilliam Burton Rep KingfisherWilliam Metcalf Dem KiowaJim Cook Dem LatimerJames Fesperman Dem LeFloreRalph Vandiver Dem LeFloreJesse Berry Rep LincolnBarbour Cox Dem LincolnJoe Carey Rep LoganRudolph Folsom Dem LoveHoward Lindley Rep MajorJay Payne Dem MarshallG. A. Sampsel Dem MayesEarl Foster Jr. Dem OklahomaRobert O'Darrell Cunningham Dem Oklahoma Table based on government database.Historic Members , Okhouse.gov (accessed July 3, 2013).
References