Walter Jenny
Encyclopedia
Walter William Jenny Jr. is an attorney and community activist in Edmond, Oklahoma. He is currently serving as Assistant General Counsel of the Oklahoma Department of Labor
. He writes a regular column for the Edmond Sun
and the Oklahoma Observer.
, Oklahoma
. He attended Shawnee High School and graduated at the age of 16. His parents are Walter and Eula Mae (Hink) Jenny. He attended the University of Oklahoma
where he served three elected terms in the student government's Student Congress. He then transferred to the University of Washington
where he graduated in 1978 with a bachelor's degree in political science. He received his juris doctorate from the Oklahoma City University
School of Law, and received the American Jurisprudence award in administrative law. He later served as a judicial intern under long-time Supreme Court Justice Marion P. Opala.
Jenny was a delegate to the 1980 Democratic National Convention and an unsuccessful candidate for the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 1986. He served as Secretary of the Oklahoma Democratic Party
from 2005 to 2009.
After passing the Oklahoma bar exam, Jenny practiced labor and employment law in Oklahoma. He became an Assistant Attorney General in 1995, representing a variety of state agencies. He served as general counsel for the Oklahoma Commission on Consumer Credit in 2006-2007 before joining the Oklahoma Department of Labor as Assistant General Counsel. He is also licensed to practice before the Western, Northern and Eastern District federal courts in Oklahoma, and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Walter is a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon
Fraternity, having been Grand Province Advisor from 2000 to 2010 and as District Vice President from 1981 to 1986; he currently serves as chair of the Judiciary Committee, and was appointed to a variety of fraternity committees over the years. He also was Chapter Advisor for Omicron Phi and Epsilon Sigma chapters in Oklahoma. Jenny is recipient of the fraternity's Key Leader award in 2001, and was named International “Volunteer of the Year” in 2005. He was inducted into the TKE Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2007, and was given the International Grand Prytanis Award at the fraternity's biennial Conclave in 2009.
Jenny was on the Board of Directors of Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity from 1987 to 1991, and was chairman during 1990. During that year, the organization's budget doubled and the number of houses built also doubled. In 1980 he served as president of the church council of St. John Lutheran Church in Shawnee. He currently is an advisor to the Board of Directors of the Edmond Neighborhood Alliance, and sits on the Board of Directors of the Oklahoma YMCA Youth in Government Alumni Association.
and Sir Peter de Montfort
, first Speaker of the English Parliament under Henry III. He shares a common ancestry with Thomas Jefferson
through the President's great-great grandfather, Captain Henry Isham.
, June 12, 2008
Oklahoma Department of Labor
The Oklahoma Department of Labor is an agency of the government of Oklahoma that is headed by the Oklahoma Labor Commissioner, a statewide elected position...
. He writes a regular column for the Edmond Sun
Edmond Sun
The Edmond Sun is a daily newspaper serving the Edmond and Deer Creek communities. The Edmond Sun is owned by Community Newspaper Holdings Inc. The newspaper has a circulation of 6,000....
and the Oklahoma Observer.
Early life and education
Walter Jenny was born in ShawneeShawnee
The Shawnee, Shaawanwaki, Shaawanooki and Shaawanowi lenaweeki, are an Algonquian-speaking people native to North America. Historically they inhabited the areas of Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Western Maryland, Kentucky, Indiana, and Pennsylvania...
, 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...
. He attended Shawnee High School and graduated at the age of 16. His parents are Walter and Eula Mae (Hink) Jenny. He attended 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...
where he served three elected terms in the student government's Student Congress. He then transferred to the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
where he graduated in 1978 with a bachelor's degree in political science. He received his juris doctorate from the 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...
School of Law, and received the American Jurisprudence award in administrative law. He later served as a judicial intern under long-time Supreme Court Justice Marion P. Opala.
Jenny was a delegate to the 1980 Democratic National Convention and an unsuccessful candidate for the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 1986. He served as Secretary of the Oklahoma Democratic Party
Oklahoma Democratic Party
The Oklahoma Democratic Party is an Oklahoma political party affiliated with the United States Democratic Party. Along with the Oklahoma Republican Party, it one of the two major parties in Oklahoma politics....
from 2005 to 2009.
After passing the Oklahoma bar exam, Jenny practiced labor and employment law in Oklahoma. He became an Assistant Attorney General in 1995, representing a variety of state agencies. He served as general counsel for the Oklahoma Commission on Consumer Credit in 2006-2007 before joining the Oklahoma Department of Labor as Assistant General Counsel. He is also licensed to practice before the Western, Northern and Eastern District federal courts in Oklahoma, and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Walter is a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon
Tau Kappa Epsilon
Tau Kappa Epsilon is a college fraternity founded on January 10, 1899 at Illinois Wesleyan University with chapters in the United States, and Canada, and affiliation with a German fraternity system known as the Corps of the Weinheimer Senioren Convent...
Fraternity, having been Grand Province Advisor from 2000 to 2010 and as District Vice President from 1981 to 1986; he currently serves as chair of the Judiciary Committee, and was appointed to a variety of fraternity committees over the years. He also was Chapter Advisor for Omicron Phi and Epsilon Sigma chapters in Oklahoma. Jenny is recipient of the fraternity's Key Leader award in 2001, and was named International “Volunteer of the Year” in 2005. He was inducted into the TKE Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2007, and was given the International Grand Prytanis Award at the fraternity's biennial Conclave in 2009.
Jenny was on the Board of Directors of Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity from 1987 to 1991, and was chairman during 1990. During that year, the organization's budget doubled and the number of houses built also doubled. In 1980 he served as president of the church council of St. John Lutheran Church in Shawnee. He currently is an advisor to the Board of Directors of the Edmond Neighborhood Alliance, and sits on the Board of Directors of the Oklahoma YMCA Youth in Government Alumni Association.
Genealogy
Through his mother, Jenny is a direct descendant of William the Conqueror, King Henry I of EnglandHenry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
and Sir Peter de Montfort
Peter de Montfort
Sir Peter de Montfort was an English parliamentarian.In 1257 he was High Sheriff of Staffordshire and Shropshire....
, first Speaker of the English Parliament under Henry III. He shares a common ancestry with Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
through the President's great-great grandfather, Captain Henry Isham.
See also
Going Against The Grain, Edmond SunEdmond Sun
The Edmond Sun is a daily newspaper serving the Edmond and Deer Creek communities. The Edmond Sun is owned by Community Newspaper Holdings Inc. The newspaper has a circulation of 6,000....
, June 12, 2008