William G. Stigler

William Grady Stigler (July 7, 1891 – August 21, 1952) was an American lawyer, World War I veteran, and politician who served four terms as and a U.S. Representative from Oklahoma from 1944 to 1952.

William Grady Stigler
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Oklahoma's 2nd district
In office
March 28, 1944 – August 21, 1952
Preceded byJohn C. Nichols
Succeeded byEd Edmondson
Member of the Oklahoma Senate
In office
1924–1932
Personal details
BornJuly 7, 1891 (1891-07-07)
Stigler, Haskell County, Indian Territory
DiedAugust 21, 1952 (1952-08-22) (aged 61)
Stigler, Haskell County, Oklahoma
Citizenship United States
 Choctaw Nation
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseOna Beller Stigler
ChildrenDenyse Stigler Elaine Stigler
Alma materNortheastern State College
University of Oklahoma College of Law
ProfessionAttorney
Military service
AllegianceUnited States United States of America
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1918-1919 (US Army)
1925-1938 (Oklahoma National Guard)
RankSecond Lieutenant
Unit357th Infantry Regiment of the 90th Division
Battles/warsWorld War I

Biography

Stigler was a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and is listed as three-eights Choctaw on the Dawes Rolls[1][2] He was born the son of Joseph S. and Mary Jane Folsom Stigler in Stigler, Haskell County, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). He attended the public schools, and graduated from Northeastern State College, Tahlequah, Oklahoma, in 1912. He also attended the law school of the University of Oklahoma at Norman.

Career

During World War I, he served as a Second Lieutenant in the 357th Infantry Regiment of the 90th Division in 1918 and 1919, with overseas service. He attended the University of Grenoble in France during 1919.[3]

Admitted to the Oklahoma Bar Association in 1920, Stigler commenced practice in Stigler, Oklahoma. He was city attorney of Stigler from 1920 to 1924. He served in the Oklahoma State Senate 1924 to 1932, serving as president pro tempore in 1931. He also served as Lieutenant Colonel in the 45th Division of the Oklahoma National Guard 1925-1938.

Family

On June 7, 1925, he married Ona Beller. The couple had two daughters, Denyse and Elaine.[4]

Congress

Stigler was elected as a Democrat to the Seventy-eighth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Jack Nichols. He was reelected to the Seventy-ninth and to the three succeeding Congresses and served from March 28, 1944, until his death.[5]

He was the only Choctaw elected to the U.S. Congress until the 2022 election of Republican Josh Brecheen.[6]

Death

Stigler died in Stigler, Haskell County, Okla., August 21, 1952 (age 61 years, 45 days). He is interred at Stigler Cemetery, Stigler, Oklahoma.[7]

See also

References
  1. Bio connected with the University of Oklahoma special collections collection on Stigler
  2. "Search the Dawes Rolls, 1898–1914". Oklahoma Historical Society. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  3. "William G. Stigler". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  4. "William G. Stigler". Oklahoma Historical Society. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  5. "William G. Stigler". Govtrack US Congress. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  6. "Republicans maintain all 5 US House seats in Oklahoma". KSTP.com. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  7. "William G. Stigler". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
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