Keith Leftwich
Encyclopedia
Keith Clayton Leftwich was a State Representative and State Senator for Oklahoma
.
Born to John V. and Paulyne Leftwich at Tinker Air Force Base Hospital, Leftwich graduated from Choctaw High School in 1972. One of his accomplishments there was receiving the William Randolph Hearst Award for High School Seniors. As a student at the University of Oklahoma
, he was the recipient of the Nora Wells Award for Outstanding Junior Man and served in Student Congress. He graduated from Oklahoma City University
with a degree in liberal arts.
He started his public political career in 1978 by running for a State Representative seat in South Oklahoma City (then District 91), losing in the Democratic runoff election to Charles Gray
, who won the general election. In 1982, when Gray decided not to run for re-election, Leftwich ran and won the primary, runoff, and general elections. During the three terms that he served (1983 to 1989), he was chair of the Committee of Government Operations, as well as chair of the interim Committee of Legislative Procedures. One of his interests while in the Oklahoma State House of Representative was reform of the corrections system. He decided to forgo re-election in 1988 in order to run for State Corporation Commissioner
, but lost in the runoff to Charles Morgan.
After his career in the Oklahoma House of Representatives
, Leftwich was executive vice-president of the Del City
Chamber of Commerce. In 1990, he ran for District 44 seat of the Oklahoma State Senate, in which he won the primary and defeated the Republican incumbent. During his career in the State Senate, among the chairs that he served was for the transportation committee, as well as general government and transportation subcommittee on appropriations. He also served as majority whip. For the 2002 governor's race, Leftwich was frequently mentioned as a candidate for the nomination under the Democratic Party
banner, but declined to declare candidacy for this office.
In January 2002, he held a press conference in which he announced he had contracted neck cancer. However, he was re-elected that year. Following his death from cancer, his widow Debbe Leftwich
won the special election on December 9, 2003 to succeed him.
On March 25, 2004, the library at Oklahoma City Community College
was dedicated as the Keith Leftwich Memorial Library. Later, a portion of Interstate 240 between Interstate 35 and Interstate 44 was dedicated as the Keith Leftwich Memorial Loop.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
.
Born to John V. and Paulyne Leftwich at Tinker Air Force Base Hospital, Leftwich graduated from Choctaw High School in 1972. One of his accomplishments there was receiving the William Randolph Hearst Award for High School Seniors. As a student at the 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...
, he was the recipient of the Nora Wells Award for Outstanding Junior Man and served in Student Congress. He graduated from Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City University, often referred to as OCU, is a coeducational, urban, private university historically affiliated with the United Methodist Church...
with a degree in liberal arts.
He started his public political career in 1978 by running for a State Representative seat in South Oklahoma City (then District 91), losing in the Democratic runoff election to Charles Gray
Charles Gray
Charles Gray may refer to:* Charles Gray , representing Colchester, England*Charles Gray , Royal Marines captain and songwriter* Charles Gray , in the mid-19th century...
, who won the general election. In 1982, when Gray decided not to run for re-election, Leftwich ran and won the primary, runoff, and general elections. During the three terms that he served (1983 to 1989), he was chair of the Committee of Government Operations, as well as chair of the interim Committee of Legislative Procedures. One of his interests while in the Oklahoma State House of Representative was reform of the corrections system. He decided to forgo re-election in 1988 in order to run for State Corporation Commissioner
Oklahoma Corporation Commission
The Oklahoma Corporation Commission is the public utilities commission of the state of Oklahoma run by three state-wide elected Commissioners, assisted by over 400 employees...
, but lost in the runoff to Charles Morgan.
After his career in the Oklahoma House of Representatives
Oklahoma House of Representatives
The Oklahoma House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oklahoma Legislature, the legislative body of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Its members are responsible for introducing and voting on bills and resolutions, providing legislative oversight for state agencies, and helping to craft the...
, Leftwich was executive vice-president of the Del City
Del City, Oklahoma
Del City is a city in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States, and a part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. The population was 21,332 at the 2010 census....
Chamber of Commerce. In 1990, he ran for District 44 seat of the Oklahoma State Senate, in which he won the primary and defeated the Republican incumbent. During his career in the State Senate, among the chairs that he served was for the transportation committee, as well as general government and transportation subcommittee on appropriations. He also served as majority whip. For the 2002 governor's race, Leftwich was frequently mentioned as a candidate for the nomination under the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
banner, but declined to declare candidacy for this office.
In January 2002, he held a press conference in which he announced he had contracted neck cancer. However, he was re-elected that year. Following his death from cancer, his widow Debbe Leftwich
Debbe Leftwich
Debbe Leftwich is a United States politician from the U.S. state of Oklahoma and was a member of the Oklahoma Senate from 2003-2010.-Early life:Born in Chandler, Oklahoma, Leftwitch grew up in Wellston, Oklahoma where she graduated from Wellston High School...
won the special election on December 9, 2003 to succeed him.
On March 25, 2004, the library at Oklahoma City Community College
Oklahoma City Community College
The Oklahoma City Community College, also referred to as OCCC or O-Triple-C, is a coeducational community college located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The community college was founded in 1972. It currently enrolls 19,700 students. The faculty consists of 134 full-time professors, and 400 adjunct...
was dedicated as the Keith Leftwich Memorial Library. Later, a portion of Interstate 240 between Interstate 35 and Interstate 44 was dedicated as the Keith Leftwich Memorial Loop.