Emma Mae Purser,
By Crystal Burnezky-Robertson reporter@madillrecord. net Raymond D. Gary was a progressive individual back in 1955. He is the former governor of Oklahoma, who was born and raised in Marshall County. Gary advocated for desegregation and fought to uphold the 1954 Supreme Court decision in Brown vs the Board of Education.
The 15th governor of Oklahoma served four years from 1955 to 1959 and during that time led Oklahoma to a new chapter of acceptance, helping recognize the value in all people.
He was born on January 21, 1908, just south of Madill inArchardCommunity.Gary made a lasting impact in life, not only in Oklahoma but across the world.
Gary, who was the first native Oklahoman to serve as governor, graduated from Madill High School in 1927. The following year, he married his high school sweetheart,
and started their family.
The Garys had two children, Raymond J. and Mona Mae Gary. Before making his way into politics, Gary attended Southeastern State College in 1928 and soon began teaching there. By 1932 he had earned his Bachelor of Science degree from SSC and was elected as Marshall County Superintendent of Schools where he served for four years.
Then, in 1936, Gary established Gary Manufacturing Company. A company that made school and office furniture. Later, he went on to purchase Kingston Commercial Oil and Gas in 1946.
HelaterrenameditSooner OilCompany.Hepurchaseda 120-acreranchnearKingston and expanded it to hundreds of acres.
In 1941, Gary began his political career as a State Senator serving in the senate until 1955 when he became governor. Upon becoming governor, his first call of action was to order the 'whites only' and 'colored only' signs removed from the Capitol's restrooms. He also declared his intent that the state complies with the 1954 Supreme CourtRulinginBrownvs.the Board of Education which declared segregation in public school is unconstitutional.
Gary established the Department of Commerce and Industry. He then called for the creation of a statewide waterresourceplanthatlater resulted in the creation of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board. By the time he left office, Gary built 3,500 miles of highways and 903 bridges. He began the construction of Interstate 35 north of Oklahoma City and made efforts to push for improvements of US-66, calling to make it into a four-lane highway through Western Oklahoma during his administration.
Those efforts ultimately led to US-66 being transformed into Interstate 40, which bypasses Clinton's south side. Gary Boulevard is also designated as Clinton's I-40 Business Loop, toll road, and pushes Interstate 40 to the west of the capital city.
After leaving the governorship, Gary’s businesses had grown to multimillion dollar operations which included Sooner Express, Sooner Leasing & Rental Co., and The Gary Cattle Co. The former governor went on on to serve as a director for the Kansas City Southern Railroad and the Louisiana and Arkansas Railroad.
Gary passed away from congestive heart failure, on December11,1993,inMadill; preceded in death the year prior by his wife Emma Mae. He was laid to rest at the Woodberry Forest Cemetery in Madill. The large 37-acre property the family owned was willed to the Baptist Children’s Home along with $200,000.TheRaymondGary State Park borders Raymond Gary Lake in Fort Towson, Okla. is a 263 acre park and will be one out of the seven Oklahoma State Parks to be in the path of totality for the April 2024 Solar Eclipse.