Laura Boyd is an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 politician

Politician

A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...

 from Oklahoma

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...

. A member of 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...

, Boyd was elected in 1992 to 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...

 to represent District 44, which included Cleveland County

Cleveland County, Oklahoma

Cleveland County is a county in the central part of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 255,755 at the 2010 census. Its county seat is Norman. Cleveland County is part of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...

. She served in the State House for six year until 1998 when she became the first woman to receive a major party nomination

Oklahoma gubernatorial election, 1998

The Oklahoma gubernatorial election of 1998 was held on November 7, 1998, and was a race for the Governor of Oklahoma.Incumbent Republican Frank Keating won re-election easily against Democratic State Representative Laura Boyd.-Republican:...

 for Governor of Oklahoma

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...

. Incumbent Republican

Republican Party (United States)

The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

 Governor Frank Keating

Frank Keating

Francis Anthony "Frank" Keating is an American politician from Oklahoma. Keating served as the 25th Governor of Oklahoma. His first term began in 1995 and ended in 1999...

 defeated Boyd in a landslide.

Biography

Boyd was born in Charlottesville, Virginia. She earned a bachelor's degree from Duke University, a master's from Marywood University, and a Doctorate in Psychology from American Commonwealth University. Boyd served 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...

 from 1993 to 1998 and Chaired the Community and Family Responsibilities Committee

First Oklahoma Woman nominee for Governor

In 1998 Boyd was the first woman nominee for Governor in Oklahoma as she won the nomination of the Oklahoma Democratic Party. She received 41% of the votes and was defeated by Republican Frank Keating

Frank Keating

Francis Anthony "Frank" Keating is an American politician from Oklahoma. Keating served as the 25th Governor of Oklahoma. His first term began in 1995 and ended in 1999...

. In 2002 Boyd was Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma

Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma

The Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma is the second-highest executive official of the state government of Oklahoma. As first in the gubernatorial line of succession, the Lieutenant Governor becomes the new Governor of Oklahoma upon the death, resignation, or removal of the Governor...

 but was defeated by Republican Mary Fallin

Mary Fallin

Mary Fallin is the 27th and current Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. She was a U.S. Representative for from 2007 until 2011....

.

In addition

Dr. Boyd has sixteen years of teaching experience at both undergraduate and graduate levels, as well as twenty-plus years of private counseling experience.

She is owner and CEO of Policy and Performance Consultants Inc. in Norman as well as national field director of Women Legislators' Lobby and executive director of the Oklahoma Therapeutic Foster Care Association.

In 2011 she was inducted in the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame

Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame

Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame was established in 1982 by Oklahoma Governor George Nigh "to honor Oklahoma women who are pioneers in their field or in a project that benefits Oklahoma; who have made a significant contribution to the State of Oklahoma; who serve or have served as role models to other...

.

Major Legislation

The Ryan Luke Act, which cracks down on child abuse and sexual predators, was Boyd's major legislative contribution.

External links

• 2005-2006 Oklahoma Almanac Online--Oklahoma History
• Women of the Oklahoma Legislature Oral History Project--OSU Library
• Historic House Membership Oklahoma House of Representatives.