Victor Wickersham
Encyclopedia
Victor Eugene Wickersham (February 9, 1906 – March 15, 1988) was a U.S. Representative
from Oklahoma
.
, Victor Wickersham moved to Mangum, Oklahoma
, with his parents in 1915. He was educated in the public schools of Oklahoma.
from 1924 to 1926, and as court clerk
of Greer County from 1926 to 1935. He served as chief clerk of the board of affairs of the State of Oklahoma in 1935 and 1936. He engaged as a building contractor in Oklahoma City
in 1937 and 1938 and in the life insurance business 1938-1941. Wickersham also worked as a real estate, insurance, and investment broker. In later years when he had gray hair, he would dress up as the "Uncle Sam
" character and appear at political rallies.
to the 77th Congress
to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Sam C. Massingale
. He was reelected to the 78th
and 79th Congress
es and served from April 1, 1941, to January 3, 1947. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1946, but was reelected to the 81st
and to the three succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1949-January 3, 1957). He was not renominated in 1956 and 1958. He succeeded in his election to the 87th
and to the 88th Congress
es (January 3, 1961-January 3, 1965). He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1964 to the 89th Congress
.
He served as member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
, January 3, 1971-January 3, 1979, and again from February 9, 1988, until his death in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
, on March 15, 1988.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
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...
.
Early life and education
Born on a farm near Lone Rock, ArkansasBaxter County, Arkansas
Baxter County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. It is in the northern part of the state, and shares a border with Missouri. It is commonly referred to as the Twin Lakes Area because it is bordered by two of Arkansas' largest lakes, Bull Shoals Lake and Norfork Lake...
, Victor Wickersham moved to Mangum, Oklahoma
Mangum, Oklahoma
Mangum is a city in Greer County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 3,010 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Greer County....
, with his parents in 1915. He was educated in the public schools of Oklahoma.
Career
He was employed in the office of the county clerk of Greer County, OklahomaGreer County, Oklahoma
Greer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 6,061. Its county seat is Mangum. From 1860 to 1896, the state of Texas claimed an area known as Greer County, Texas, which included present-day Greer County along with neighboring...
from 1924 to 1926, and as court clerk
Court clerk
A court clerk is an officer of the court whose responsibilities include maintaining the records of a court. Another duty is to administer oaths to witnesses, jurors, and grand jurors...
of Greer County from 1926 to 1935. He served as chief clerk of the board of affairs of the State of Oklahoma in 1935 and 1936. He engaged as a building contractor in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
in 1937 and 1938 and in the life insurance business 1938-1941. Wickersham also worked as a real estate, insurance, and investment broker. In later years when he had gray hair, he would dress up as the "Uncle Sam
Uncle Sam
Uncle Sam is a common national personification of the American government originally used during the War of 1812. He is depicted as a stern elderly man with white hair and a goatee beard...
" character and appear at political rallies.
Congressional Service
Wickersham was elected as a DemocratDemocratic 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...
to the 77th Congress
77th United States Congress
-Major events:* December 7, 1941: Attack on Pearl Harbor* December 8, 1941: Joint Session of Congress met to hear President Roosevelt deliver his "Day of Infamy" speech...
to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Sam C. Massingale
Sam C. Massingale
Samuel Chapman Massingale was a U.S. Representative from Oklahoma.Born in Quitman, Mississippi, Massingale attended the public schools and the University of Mississippi at Oxford where he studied law....
. He was reelected to the 78th
78th United States Congress
The Seventy-eighth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1943 to January 3, 1945, during the last two years...
and 79th Congress
79th United States Congress
The Seventy-ninth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1945 to January 3, 1947, during the last months of...
es and served from April 1, 1941, to January 3, 1947. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1946, but was reelected to the 81st
81st United States Congress
The Eighty-first United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives...
and to the three succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1949-January 3, 1957). He was not renominated in 1956 and 1958. He succeeded in his election to the 87th
87th United States Congress
-House of Representatives :-Senate:* President: Richard Nixon , until January 20, 1961** Lyndon Johnson , from January 20, 1961* President pro tempore: Carl Hayden -House of Representatives:...
and to the 88th Congress
88th United States Congress
The Eighty-eighth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1963 to January 3, 1965, during the last year of...
es (January 3, 1961-January 3, 1965). He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1964 to the 89th Congress
89th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:- Senate :* President of the Senate: Hubert Humphrey , starting January 20, 1965* President pro tempore: Carl Hayden - Majority leadership :* Majority Leader and Democratic Conference Chairman: Mike Mansfield...
.
He served as member of 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...
, January 3, 1971-January 3, 1979, and again from February 9, 1988, until his death in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
, on March 15, 1988.