Victor Eugene Wickersham (February 9, 1906 – March 15, 1988) was an American politician and a U.S. Representative from Oklahoma.
Victor Eugene Wickersham | |
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Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma | |
In office April 1, 1941 – January 3, 1947 | |
Preceded by | Sam C. Massingale |
Succeeded by | Preston E. Peden |
Constituency | 7th district |
In office January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1957 | |
Preceded by | Preston E. Peden |
Succeeded by | Toby Morris |
Constituency | 7th district (1949–1953) 6th district (1953–1957) |
In office January 3, 1961 – January 3, 1965 | |
Preceded by | Toby Morris |
Succeeded by | Jed Johnson, Jr. |
Constituency | 6th district |
Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives | |
In office January 3, 1971 – January 3, 1979 | |
In office February 9, 1988 – March 15, 1988 | |
Personal details | |
Born | February 9, 1906 Lone Rock, Arkansas, United States |
Died | March 15, 1988 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | (aged 82)
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Jessie Blaine Stiles Wickersham Lorene Dennis Wickersham |
Children | 4 |
Profession | court clerk, building contractor, real estate agent, insurance agent, investment broker, politician |
Early life and education
editBorn on a farm near Lone Rock, Arkansas, Wickersham was the son of Frank Morrell and Lillie Mae Sword Wickersham. He moved to Mangum, Oklahoma, with his parents in 1915 and was educated in the public schools of Oklahoma.[citation needed]
Career
editEmployed in the office of the county clerk of Greer County, Oklahoma from 1924 to 1926, Wickersham was appointed as court clerk of Greer County from 1926 to 1935. On June 30, 1929, he married Jessie Blaine Stiles of Mangum. As the county clerk, he issued his own marriage license. Four children were born to the marriage, LaMelba, Nelda, Galen, and Victor Wickersham II.[1]
Wickersham 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.[2]
Congressional tenure
editWickersham was elected as a Democrat to the 77th Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Sam C. Massingale. He was reelected to the 78th and 79th Congresses 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 Congresses (January 3, 1961 – January 3, 1965).[3] He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1964 to the 89th Congress.
Wickersham did not sign the 1956 Southern Manifesto, and voted for the Twenty-Fourth Amendment (abolishing the poll tax) in 1962, but voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1964.[4]
State legislature
editIn 1984 Wickersham's wife, Jessie, died. He married Lorene Dennis in 1986. He served as member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from January 3, 1971 to January 3, 1979, and again from February 9, 1988, until his death.[5] He was the oldest state legislator in office in 1988 at the age of 82.[5]
Death
editWickersham died in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, on March 15, 1988 (age 82 years, 35 days). He is interred at Riverside Cemetery, Mangum, Oklahoma.[6]
References
edit- ^ "Victor Wickersham". Oklahoma Historical Society. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
- ^ "Victor Wickersham". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
- ^ "Victor Wickersham". Govtrack US Congress. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
- ^ "H.R. 7152. PASSAGE".
- ^ a b Hudson, Geneva Johnston (AuthorHouse, 2005). Statesman or Rogue: Elected to Serve. ISBN 1-4208-2503-8
- ^ "Victor Wickersham". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
External links
edit- United States Congress. "Victor Wickersham (id: W000439)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Victor E. Wickersham Collection and Photograph Series at the Carl Albert Center
- Victor Wickersham at Find a Grave