First ladies and gentlemen of Oklahoma
First Lady of Oklahoma | |
---|---|
![]() Great Seal of Oklahoma | |
since January 10, 2019 | |
Style | Mrs. Stitt |
Residence | Oklahoma Governor's Mansion |
Inaugural holder | Lillian Gallup Haskell |
Formation | November 16, 1907 |
Website | Office of the First Lady |
First Lady or First Gentleman of Oklahoma is the title held by the spouse of the sitting governor of Oklahoma. The first lady or first gentleman serves as the official host of the Oklahoma Governor's Mansion. As of 2011, there have been 26 first ladies and one first gentleman.
The current (and 26th) first lady of Oklahoma is Sarah Hazen Stitt, wife of Governor Kevin Stitt. First Lady Hazen has been in that position since her husband assumed office in 2019.
Role
[edit]The position of the first spouse is not an elected one, carries no official duties, and receives no salary. However, the first spouse holds a highly visible position in state government. The first spouse is the host of the Oklahoma Governor's Mansion and organizes and attends official ceremonies and functions of state either along with, or in place of, the Governor.
It is common for the governor's spouse to select specific, non-political, causes to promote. For instance, former first lady Kim Henry had taken up promoting early childhood education. Former first gentleman Wade Christensen mentioned his platform revolved around sports in rural Oklahoma.
List
[edit]Oklahoma Territory
[edit]Name[1] | Took office | Left office | Spouse of | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Marietta Swayzee Steele | 1890 | 1891 | George Washington Steele |
2 | Ada S. Gilmore Martin | 1891 | 1892 | Robert Martin (acting) |
— | Vacant | 1892 | 1893 | Abraham Jefferson Seay |
3 | Jennie B. York Renfrow | 1893 | 1897 | William Cary Renfrow |
4 | Mary Elizabeth Bartlett Barnes | 1897 | 1901 | Cassius McDonald Barnes |
5 | Delphina White Jenkins | 1901 | 1901 | William Miller Jenkins |
6 | Mary Cleaver Grimes | 1901 | 1901 | William C. Grimes (acting) |
7 | Elva Shartel Ferguson | 1901 | 1906 | Thompson Benton Ferguson |
9 | Matilda Evans Frantz | 1906 | 1907 | Frank Frantz |
Oklahoma (1907–present)
[edit]Name | Took office | Left office | Spouse of | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Lillian Gallup Haskell | 1907 | 1911 | Charles N. Haskell |
— | Vacant | 1911 | 1919 | Lee Cruce[2] Robert L. Williams[3] |
2 | Isabelle Butler Robertson | 1919 | 1923 | James B. A. Robertson |
3 | Madeleine Orrick Walton | 1923 | 1923 | John C. Walton |
4 | Lula C. Strang Trapp | 1923 | 1927 | Martin E. Trapp |
5 | Ethel Littleton Johnston | 1927 | 1929 | Henry S. Johnston |
6 | Amy Arnold Holloway | 1929 | 1931 | William J. Holloway |
7 | Mary Alice Hearrell Murray | 1931 | 1935 | William H. Murray |
8 | Lydie Roberts Marland | 1935 | 1939 | E. W. Marland |
9 | Myrtle Ellenberger Phillips | 1939 | 1943 | Leon C. Phillips |
10 | Grayce Breene Kerr | 1943 | 1947 | Robert S. Kerr |
11 | Jessica Grimm Turner | 1947 | 1951 | Roy J. Turner |
12 | Willie Emerson Murray | 1951 | 1955 | Johnston Murray |
13 | Emma Mae Purser Gary | 1955 | 1959 | Raymond D. Gary |
14 | Jeanette Bartleson Edmondson | 1959 | 1963 | J. Howard Edmondson |
15 | Shirley Osborn Bellmon | 1963 | 1967 | Henry Bellmon |
16 | Ann Smith Bartlett | 1967 | 1971 | Dewey F. Bartlett |
17 | Jo Evans Hall | 1971 | 1975 | David Hall |
18 | Janna Lou Little Boren | 1975 | 1975 | David L. Boren |
19 | Molly Shi Boren | 1977 | 1979 | David L. Boren |
20 | Donna Skinner Nigh | 1979 | 1987 | George Nigh |
21 | Shirley Osborn Bellmon | 1987 | 1991 | Henry Bellmon |
22 | Rhonda Smith Walters | 1991 | 1995 | David Walters |
23 | Catherine Heller Keating | 1995 | 2003 | Frank Keating |
24 | Kim Blain Henry | 2003 | 2011 | Brad Henry |
25 | Wade Christensen | 2011 | 2019 | Mary Fallin |
26 | Sarah Hazen Stitt | 2019 | Present | Kevin Stitt |
Notes
[edit]- ^ Paustenbaugh, Jennifer (2003). "Oklahoma's First Ladies from Territorial Days to the Present Time". ojs.library.okstate.edu. Oklahoma State University. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
- ^ Governor Cruce was a widower at the time of taking office.
- ^ Governor Williams never married.