Raymond D. Gary

Dancel Gary Raymond ( born January 21, 1908 Marshall County, Oklahoma, † December 11, 1993 in Madill, Oklahoma ) was an American politician and from 1955 to 1959 the 15th Governor of the State of Oklahoma.

Early years and political rise

Gary Raymond attended the local schools of his home and then the Southeastern State College. Between 1928 and 1932 he worked as a school teacher before becoming a School Board ( Superintendent of Schools ) in Marshall County. He then spent five years owner of a furniture factory and then president of an oil company.

Gary was a member of the Democratic Party. Between 1940 and 1954 he sat in the Senate of Oklahoma. In the last two years, he was even President of the Senate. In 1954 he was elected as a candidate of his party for the new governor, where he prevailed with 59:41 percent of the vote to Republican Reuben K. Sparks.

Governor of Oklahoma

Gary took up his new post on January 10, 1955. In his four-year tenure, the school system was reformed. Racial segregation in schools was abolished; at least not separate by race more schools were funded by the state. Especially for this purpose, the State Constitution was amended. The governor campaigned for the abolition of racial segregation in other areas. His commitment was violent riots, as they occurred at the same time in the southern United States, be prevented in Oklahoma.

Another focus of his reign was the expansion of roads. At that time, more than 3,500 miles of new highways were completed, another 800 miles were planned. Governor Gary also founded a Trade and Industry Ministry in Oklahoma. He promoted inter alia, the industrial development of his state. Also, a commission of inquiry to the study of fresh water resources of Oklahoma was established. In 1957 he was chairman of the Interstate Oil Compact Commission, an organization of those involved in oil production U.S. states.

Further CV

After the end of his term in January 1959, Gary was dedicated again his business interests, especially the oil business and animal husbandry. In 1964, he ran for his party's nomination for election to the U.S. Senate, but finished behind the victorious incumbent J. Howard Edmondson and Fred R. Harris only the third place. In 1966, he sought once more to the lineup as a candidate for the gubernatorial election, but failed within the party at Preston J. Moore. Raymond Gary died in December 1993. He was married to Emma Mae Purser, who had with the two children.

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