Governor Raymond D. Gary

Term—1955 to 1959

Descriptive Summary

Size: 7 cubic feet
Creator: Office of Governor
Repository: Oklahoma State Archives
200 Northeast 18th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
(405) 522-3579
Open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. M-F

Click here for a detailed Archival Finding Aid in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format.

Arrangement and Description

Record Group: 8-O

Raymond Dancel Gary, Democrat. Served from 1955 to 1959. He was the first Governor to be born Oklahoma since statehood. His birth date was January 21, 1908, and his birthplace, a farm midway between Madill and Kingston. He was educated in the local schools and Southeastern State College. After five years of teaching he was elected county superintendent of schools and served for four years. In 1936, he began his business career, first in school and office supplies, later as president of the Sooner Oil Company. He was a State Senator from 1941 until he became governor January 10, 1955. He died December 11, 1993, and is buried in Madill.

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Research Topics: Civil Rights, Communism, Commissioners of the Land Office, Right to Work, State Banking Department

Related Websites: Raymond Gary, OSU

State of State Addresses: 1955 • 1957 • 1959

Agency History

The Governor of Oklahoma is the chief executive officer of the state and is elected for a four year term. Principal powers and responsibilities are outlined by the state constitution and by statute and include certain appointive powers, the veto or approval of bills passed by the Legislature, the granting of pardons and paroles, the summoning of special sessions of the legislature, and the calling out of the militia. Moreover, the Governor is directly responsible for the preparation of the state budget, serves as an ex officio member of several boards and commissions, receives reports from various state officers and agencies, and is charged with the duty of seeing that all laws are faithfully executed in the state.

Administrative Information

Access: No Restrictions.

Publication Rights: Permission for reproduction or publication is given on behalf of the Oklahoma State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility for possible infringement, which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the Oklahoma State Archives collections.

Preferred citation: [Identification of Item], [Box #], [Folder #], Record Group 8-O- [#], Governor's Office Records, Oklahoma State Archives, Oklahoma Department of Libraries, Oklahoma City, OK.