Patience Sewell Latting was an American politician who served as Mayor of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, from 1971 to 1983.
22 Facts About Patience Latting
1.
2.
Patience Latting graduated from Classen High School in Oklahoma City.
3.
Patience Latting received a bachelor's degree with honors in mathematics from the University of Oklahoma in 1938.
4.
In 1939, Patience Latting obtained a master's degree in economics and statistics from Columbia University in New York City.
5.
Patience Latting became a member of both the Parent Teacher Association and the League of Women Voters.
6.
Patience Latting realized that the way state legislative district borders were drawn in Oklahoma was antiquated.
7.
In 1964, Patience Latting testified before a United States federal court which was investigating the legality of the state elections held that same year.
8.
Patience Latting, who had a background in statistics, became involved in the reapportionment and redistricting of the new state House and Senate districts, which were more proportionally distributed between urban and rural areas.
9.
In 1967, Patience Latting was elected to the Oklahoma City Council representing Ward 2, becoming the first woman to serve on the council.
10.
In 1971, Patience Latting announced her candidacy for Mayor of Oklahoma City.
11.
Patience Latting felt at the time that incumbent city officials were mismanaging city funds.
12.
Patience Latting defeated fellow councilman Bill Bishop with 32,271 to 22,132 in a mayoral runoff election held on April 6,1971.
13.
Patience Latting was sworn into office on April 13,1971, becoming the city's first female mayor.
14.
Patience Latting's allies won a majority of the seats on the council in the next municipal election as a result.
15.
New businesses and manufacturers moved to Oklahoma City during Patience Latting's tenure, including General Motors and Xerox.
16.
Patience Latting declined to run for re-election to a fourth term and retired from office in 1983.
17.
In 1980, Patience Latting was named to the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.
18.
Patience Latting was the 1995 recipient of the Constitution Award from Rogers State College for her career in public service.
19.
In 2005, a bust of Patience Latting was dedicated in Oklahoma City Hall outside the mayor's office.
20.
Patience Latting remained actively involved with state charitable, cultural and civic groups after leaving office, including the Oklahoma Heritage Association, the Support Center of Oklahoma, and Oklahoma City Beautiful.
21.
Patience Latting died on December 29,2012, at the age of 94.
22.
Patience Latting's coffin was placed in the city hall's main foyer surrounded by an honor guard of city police officers and firefighters.