33 Facts About Johnston Murray

Johnston Murray was an American lawyer, politician, and the 14th governor of Oklahoma from 1951 to 1955.

In 1956, the couple divorced and Johnston Murray switched sides and joined the Republican Party.

Johnston Murray later remarried and moved to Fort Worth, Texas, where he worked for an oil well servicing company and later a limousine service.

Johnston Murray ran for Oklahoma State Treasurer in 1962, but finished last in the four-man Democratic primary field.

Johnston Murray worked for the remainder of his career as a consulting attorney for the Oklahoma Department of Welfare.

Johnston Murray was the niece of Douglas H Johnston, the noted Chickasaw Governor for whom her husband William H Murray was then working as a legal advisor.

The senior Johnston Murray later served both with the 1905 convention that drafted a constitution for the State of Sequoyah, and as president of the 1906 convention that drafted Oklahoma's constitution prior to its admission.

Johnston Murray attended college at the Murray State School of Agriculture, graduating in 1924.

Unlike his mother, Johnston Murray never chose to enroll as a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation.

When elected as state governor, Johnston Murray was the first person of Native American in the United States to hold a gubernatorial office.

Johnston Murray's status is controversial among some Chickasaw because he was not a citizen.

In 1923, Johnston Murray married Marion Draughon of Sulphur, Oklahoma.

When Johnston Murray returned to Oklahoma, he worked in oil and gas fields, rising to the role of plant manager.

Johnston Murray married again in 1933, to Willie Roberta Emerson.

Johnston Murray was a concert pianist and known for her drive and ambition.

Johnston Murray joined and became active in the Democratic Party, which dominated state politics.

Johnston Murray had returned to graduate school, and in 1947 received his law degree from Oklahoma City University School of Law.

Johnston Murray served as Democratic chair of Oklahoma's 8th congressional district and as chair of local political groups in Kay and Oklahoma counties.

Johnston Murray served as chair of the Oklahoma Election Board and secretary of the Oklahoma Land Commission.

Johnston Murray was elected Governor of Oklahoma in November 1950 and sworn into office on January 21,1951.

Johnston Murray's program included continuing to consolidate schools to improve education, changing the ad valorem tax to return more of the property taxes to local school districts, and expanding highway and toll road systems.

Johnston Murray received an honorary degree of Doctor of Law on 7 July 1952 from Sequoia University, which had established legal headquarters in Oklahoma at the time.

Johnston Murray had some notable successes: he was the first Oklahoma governor to be elected as Chairman of the Southern Governors Conference.

Johnston Murray was instrumental in the state purchase of fairgrounds in Oklahoma City.

In 1954 Johnston Murray toured Central and South American countries on behalf of the United States Information Service.

Johnston Murray served as chairman of the Interstate Oil Compact Commission.

Johnston Murray welcomed up to 3,000 people weekly, who lined up at the door for entrance.

Johnston Murray asked for another chance; she named another woman as co-respondent, and published letters from Johnston Murray declaring his intention to divorce.

Johnston Murray's settlement included making a $75,000 payment to Willie, deeding her the family's home in Oklahoma City and a Ford automobile, and giving her a copy of the movie of her gubernatorial campaign.

Johnston Murray married a third time, to Helen Shutt in 1956.

Johnston Murray lived and worked for a period in Fort Worth, Texas, where he worked for an oil well servicing firm, and then a limousine service.

Johnston Murray later served as a consulting attorney with the Oklahoma Department of Public Welfare until his death on April 16,1974,8 days after a surgery for a ruptured abdominal blood vessel.

Johnston Murray is buried in Tishomingo, Oklahoma, where both his parents were buried.