David Walters
Encyclopedia
David Lee Walters was the 24th Governor of Oklahoma
from 1991 to 1995.
. He graduated as valedictorian
from Canute High School in 1969. He later graduated from University of Oklahoma
in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering. In 1977 he earned his master's degree in business administration from Harvard University
.
He became the project manager for Gov. David Boren. Later Walters served as assistant and associate provost at the OU Health Sciences Center. There, at the age of 29, he became the youngest executive officer in the university’s history. He joined The Burks Group (a commercial real estate
company) in 1982, and became president of American Fidelity Property Company in 1985. In 1984 he was appointed co-chairman of the governor's 100-member Reform Commission.
carrying 75 of the state’s 77 counties. During his term education
funding increased by approximately 30 percent and a $350 million bond
issue for higher education
brought construction and renovation to every state college campus. Walters term in office was marred by controversy about making the Blue Room, a ceremonial large hall in the state capitol building into the Governor's office. Since the large room was more ornate and formal, the effort made questions arise about his judgment. Additionally, Walters term was controversial as numerous former campaign aides testified to illegal activities in his campaign organization. While in office he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor
election
violation as opposed to felony charges. He did not run for re-election in 1994.
, but was defeated by the incumbent, James Inhofe.
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
from 1991 to 1995.
Biography
Walters was born near Canute, OklahomaCanute, Oklahoma
Canute is a town in Washita County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 541 at the 2010 census.-History:Canute was established in the early 1900s and located on the now-defunct Rock Island Railroad. Following the advent of the automobile, Canute became a popular stop along U.S...
. He graduated as valedictorian
Valedictorian
Valedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony. Usually, the valedictorian is the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution...
from Canute High School in 1969. He later graduated from University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering. In 1977 he earned his master's degree in business administration from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
He became the project manager for Gov. David Boren. Later Walters served as assistant and associate provost at the OU Health Sciences Center. There, at the age of 29, he became the youngest executive officer in the university’s history. He joined The Burks Group (a commercial real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
company) in 1982, and became president of American Fidelity Property Company in 1985. In 1984 he was appointed co-chairman of the governor's 100-member Reform Commission.
Governorship
On November 6, 1990 Walters was elected governor of OklahomaGovernor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
carrying 75 of the state’s 77 counties. During his term education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
funding increased by approximately 30 percent and a $350 million bond
Bond (finance)
In finance, a bond is a debt security, in which the authorized issuer owes the holders a debt and, depending on the terms of the bond, is obliged to pay interest to use and/or to repay the principal at a later date, termed maturity...
issue for higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
brought construction and renovation to every state college campus. Walters term in office was marred by controversy about making the Blue Room, a ceremonial large hall in the state capitol building into the Governor's office. Since the large room was more ornate and formal, the effort made questions arise about his judgment. Additionally, Walters term was controversial as numerous former campaign aides testified to illegal activities in his campaign organization. While in office he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor
Misdemeanor
A misdemeanor is a "lesser" criminal act in many common law legal systems. Misdemeanors are generally punished much less severely than felonies, but theoretically more so than administrative infractions and regulatory offences...
election
Election
An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
violation as opposed to felony charges. He did not run for re-election in 1994.
Cabinet Secretaries
- Secretary of State - John Kennedy (1991-1995)
- Secretary of Administration
- Secretary of Agriculture - Gary SherrerGary SherrerGary Sherrer is an American Democratic politician from Oklahoma. Sherrer serves as Oklahoma Secretary of the Environment under Republican Governor Mary Fallin...
(1991–1995) - Secretary of Commerce
- Secretary of Education - Sandy GarrettSandy GarrettSandy Garrett is a retired American Democratic politician from the US state of Oklahoma. Garrett is the former Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction....
(1991–1995) - Secretary of Energy - Charles NesbittCharles NesbittCharles R. Nesbitt was an Oklahoma attorney and politician. Nesbitt held several political positions in the Oklahoma state government, having served as the 9th Attorney General of Oklahoma , a member of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission , and as Oklahoma Secretary of Energy under Governor David...
(1991–1995) - Secretary of the Environment
- Secretary of Finance
- Secretary of Health and Human Services
- Secretary of Human Resources - James Thomas (1991), Oscar B. Jackson Jr.Oscar B. Jackson Jr.Oscar B. Jackson Jr. is an American civil servant from the state of Oklahoma. Jackson is the current Oklahoma Secretary of Human Resources and Administration, having served in that position since he was appointed by Governor of Oklahoma David Walters in 1991...
(1991–1995) - Secretary of the Military
- Secretary of Safety and Security - Robert Fitzpatrick (1991–1995)
- Secretary of Tourism
- Secretary of Transportation - Delmas Ford (1991-1995)
- Secretary of Veterans Affairs - John Willis (1991-1995)
Senate run
In 2002, Walters was the Democratic nominee for US SenateUnited States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, but was defeated by the incumbent, James Inhofe.