Monroe Nichols IV was born on September 24,1983 and is an American politician who has served as the Mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma, since 2024.
30 Facts About Monroe Nichols
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Monroe Nichols previously served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives representing the 72nd district from 2016 to 2024.
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Monroe Nichols played high school and college football at Bishop Louis Reicher Catholic School and the University of Tulsa.
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Monroe Nichols was the first African American to represent the district and won reelection in 2018,2020, and 2022.
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In 2024, Nichols was elected Mayor of Tulsa, the first African American elected to the position.
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Monroe Nichols IV was born September 24,1983, in Waco, Texas, to Ramona Curtis and Monroe Nichols III.
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Monroe Nichols's mother was a parole officer and his grandfather was a pastor and United States Air Force veteran.
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Monroe Nichols later graduated high school from Bishop Louis Reicher Catholic School in Waco, Texas, where he played on his high school's football team as a quarterback.
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Monroe Nichols attended the University of Tulsa where in 2002 he walked-on the football team as wide receiver.
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Monroe Nichols then sat out the 2004 season due to an injury.
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When interviewed about pursuing an NFL career in 2005, Monroe Nichols told the Tulsa World he instead wanted to focus on politics and hoped to one day become Governor of his home state of Texas.
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Monroe Nichols graduated with a degree in political science and economics.
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In 2006, shortly after graduating from college Monroe Nichols was hired by Tulsa mayor Kathy Taylor to work on a crime initiative to prevent gang activity.
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Monroe Nichols worked again for Taylor as her campaign manager for the 2013 Tulsa mayoral election.
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Monroe Nichols worked as the chief of staff for former OU-Tulsa president Gerry Clancy, as an economic development manager at the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, and as a director of business retention and expansion programs for the Tulsa Regional Chamber of Commerce.
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Monroe Nichols worked as the Director of Policy and Partnerships for StriveTogether, a nonprofit.
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Monroe Nichols first campaigned for the 72nd district of the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2008 while working in Tulsa mayor Kathy Taylor's office.
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Monroe Nichols was listed as one of over 30 individuals who filed for office with ties to education in 2016.
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However, Monroe Nichols filed a challenge to their candidacy and the Election Board removed them from the ballot, making the Democratic primary election the de facto election for the seat.
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Maria Barnes, a former Tulsa city councilor, and Monroe Nichols were the only two candidates.
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Monroe Nichols narrowly defeated Maria Barnes in the primary election.
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On November 17,2016, Monroe Nichols became the first African-American elected to represent Oklahoma House District 72.
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On May 1,2017, Monroe Nichols co-hosted the first Hispanic Cultural Day at the state Capitol.
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Monroe Nichols was endorsed by the Tulsa World and Tulsa Regional Chamber of Commerce.
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Monroe Nichols won the Democratic primary and faced no general election opponent.
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Monroe Nichols endorsed Greg Robinson in the 2020 Tulsa mayoral election.
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Monroe Nichols was re-elected to his house seat without opposition in 2022.
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On July 13,2023, Monroe Nichols announced he would not seek re-election in the House and would instead be a candidate in the 2024 Tulsa mayoral election.
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Monroe Nichols faced Casey Bradford, Kaleb Hoosier, John Jolley, Karen Keith, Paul Tay, and Brent VanNorman in the first round of the election.
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Monroe Nichols was endorsed by the Tulsa World and The Black Wall Street Times.