.gif)
David Hall (Oklahoma governor)
Encyclopedia
David Hall U.S. Democratic Party
politician, He served as the 20th Governor of Oklahoma
from January 11, 1971 to January 13, 1975, after serving as Tulsa County District Attorney, and was previously a law professor at the University of Tulsa
.
, and is the son of William A. "Red" Hall. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa
from the University of Oklahoma
in 1952; he was a member of Phi Gamma Delta
Fraternity. Upon graduation from college, he joined the United States Air Force
serving until 1954 and then joined the Reserves. In 1959, he earned a law degree from the University of Tulsa
. From 1959 to 1962, he served as assistant county attorney for Tulsa County, and was Tulsa County district attorney from 1962 through 1966. From 1968 to 1971, he served as a law professor at the University of Tulsa.
in the closest gubernatorial election in state history, and took office only after a recount confirmed his victory. As governor, he championed education and transportation issues. His administration issued a landmark educational public policy analysis book of Oklahoma's education system entitled "Measuring up and Moving On." Hall and his appointees to the State highway commission and Turnpike authority were committed to expanding the state's roads. During his term as Governor, the state drastically expanded the Vocational Technical (later renamed career-tech) system of facilities offering low or no cost training certificates for residents. As Governor, he signed into law the Oklahoma Income Tax Act, which enacted Oklahoma's income tax
code.
Hall's administration and policy initiatives were opposed and attacked on a regular basis by the state's largest newspaper, The Daily Oklahoman, and its powerful publisher, billionaire Edward Gaylord
. Gaylord had supported Hall's opponent, former Governor Bartlett.
, and State Representative and Oklahoma Baptist University
professor David L. Boren
, who eventually won the nomination and general election.
charges, in a conspiracy involving Hall and Secretary of State John Rogers willfully steering State of Oklahoma employee retiree funds to investment funds controlled by Dallas, Texas
, businessman W. W. "Doc" Taylor. Upon his conviction two months later for bribery
and extortion
, he became the first Oklahoma Governor to be convicted of criminal acts committed during his tenure. After exhausting all appeals, he served 19 months of a three-year sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution, Tucson
. Upon his release from prison in 1978, he was disbarred by the Oklahoma Bar Association, which effectively prevented him from practicing law in Oklahoma. Leaving the public spotlight of the political and legal fields, he later moved to La Jolla, California,where he has been a highly successful sales executive. He has announced plans for an autobiography memoir.
since he left office over thirty years before. He appeared at the Oklahoma History Center
to help launch a new exhibit that features all of the Governors of the State of Oklahoma. Hall remarked that it was "like coming back to heaven." He is currently writing a book about his term as Governor of Oklahoma
. It will also feature his views on his prison sentence as well as reflections on the 19 months he served in prison.
Democratic 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...
politician, He served as the 20th Governor of Oklahoma
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
from January 11, 1971 to January 13, 1975, after serving as Tulsa County District Attorney, and was previously a law professor at the University of Tulsa
University of Tulsa
The University of Tulsa is a private university awarding bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. It is currently ranked 75th among doctoral degree granting universities in the nation by US News and World Report and is listed as one of the "Best 366 Colleges" by...
.
Early life
David Hall was born in Oklahoma CityOklahoma 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...
, and is the son of William A. "Red" Hall. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa
Phi Beta Kappa Society
The Phi Beta Kappa Society is an academic honor society. Its mission is to "celebrate and advocate excellence in the liberal arts and sciences"; and induct "the most outstanding students of arts and sciences at America’s leading colleges and universities." Founded at The College of William and...
from 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...
in 1952; he was a member of Phi Gamma Delta
Phi Gamma Delta
The international fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta is a collegiate social fraternity with 120 chapters and 18 colonies across the United States and Canada. It was founded at Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, in 1848, and its headquarters are located in Lexington, Kentucky, USA...
Fraternity. Upon graduation from college, he joined the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
serving until 1954 and then joined the Reserves. In 1959, he earned a law degree from the University of Tulsa
University of Tulsa
The University of Tulsa is a private university awarding bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. It is currently ranked 75th among doctoral degree granting universities in the nation by US News and World Report and is listed as one of the "Best 366 Colleges" by...
. From 1959 to 1962, he served as assistant county attorney for Tulsa County, and was Tulsa County district attorney from 1962 through 1966. From 1968 to 1971, he served as a law professor at the University of Tulsa.
Governor of Oklahoma
In 1966, Hall finished a close third in the Democratic Primary for governor. Four years later, he defeated incumbent Republican Governor Dewey F. BartlettDewey F. Bartlett
Dewey Follett Bartlett, Sr. , a U.S. politician, served as the 19th Governor of Oklahoma from 1967 to 1971, following his same-party Republican predecessor, Henry Bellmon. State law at that time did not allow consecutive terms for governor. In 1966, he was elected governor after defeating the...
in the closest gubernatorial election in state history, and took office only after a recount confirmed his victory. As governor, he championed education and transportation issues. His administration issued a landmark educational public policy analysis book of Oklahoma's education system entitled "Measuring up and Moving On." Hall and his appointees to the State highway commission and Turnpike authority were committed to expanding the state's roads. During his term as Governor, the state drastically expanded the Vocational Technical (later renamed career-tech) system of facilities offering low or no cost training certificates for residents. As Governor, he signed into law the Oklahoma Income Tax Act, which enacted Oklahoma's income tax
Income tax
An income tax is a tax levied on the income of individuals or businesses . Various income tax systems exist, with varying degrees of tax incidence. Income taxation can be progressive, proportional, or regressive. When the tax is levied on the income of companies, it is often called a corporate...
code.
Hall's administration and policy initiatives were opposed and attacked on a regular basis by the state's largest newspaper, The Daily Oklahoman, and its powerful publisher, billionaire Edward Gaylord
Edward Gaylord
Edward Lewis Gaylord was a billionaire businessman and media mogul who built the Gaylord Entertainment Company empire that included The Oklahoman newspaper/ Oklahoma Publishing Co., Gaylord Hotels, the Nashville Network TV Channel ; the Grand Ole Opry, and the Country Music Television Channel as...
. Gaylord had supported Hall's opponent, former Governor Bartlett.
1974 Oklahoma gubernatorial election
Hall was unsuccessful his quest for re-election in 1974, garnering only 27% of the vote, coming in third place in the primary, trailing U.S. Congressman Clem McSpaddenClem McSpadden
Clem Rogers McSpadden was a Democratic politician and a U.S. Representative from Oklahoma's 2nd Congressional District who served from 1973 to 1975. He was also the grandnephew of Oklahoma comedian and actor Will Rogers....
, and State Representative and Oklahoma Baptist University
Oklahoma Baptist University
Oklahoma Baptist University is a co-educational Christian liberal arts university located in Shawnee, Oklahoma, and owned by the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. Established in 1910, OBU is ranked No.2 among baccalaureate colleges in the western region in the 2010 U.S...
professor David L. Boren
David L. Boren
David Lyle Boren is an academic leader and American politician from the state of Oklahoma. A Democrat, he served as the 21st Governor of Oklahoma from 1975 to 1979 and in the United States Senate from 1979 to 1994. He is currently president of the University of Oklahoma. He was the longest serving...
, who eventually won the nomination and general election.
Charges and retirement
Three days after leaving office on January 13, 1975, Hall was indicted on federal racketeering and extortionExtortion
Extortion is a criminal offence which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion. Refraining from doing harm is sometimes euphemistically called protection. Extortion is commonly practiced by organized crime...
charges, in a conspiracy involving Hall and Secretary of State John Rogers willfully steering State of Oklahoma employee retiree funds to investment funds controlled by Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, businessman W. W. "Doc" Taylor. Upon his conviction two months later for bribery
Bribery
Bribery, a form of corruption, is an act implying money or gift giving that alters the behavior of the recipient. Bribery constitutes a crime and is defined by Black's Law Dictionary as the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official or...
and extortion
Extortion
Extortion is a criminal offence which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion. Refraining from doing harm is sometimes euphemistically called protection. Extortion is commonly practiced by organized crime...
, he became the first Oklahoma Governor to be convicted of criminal acts committed during his tenure. After exhausting all appeals, he served 19 months of a three-year sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution, Tucson
Federal Correctional Institution, Tucson
The Federal Correctional Institution, Tucson is a prison operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons in the state of Arizona. Located 10 miles southeast of Tucson near Interstate 10 and Wilmot Road, the medium security institution is part of a larger Federal Correctional Complex that also includes a...
. Upon his release from prison in 1978, he was disbarred by the Oklahoma Bar Association, which effectively prevented him from practicing law in Oklahoma. Leaving the public spotlight of the political and legal fields, he later moved to La Jolla, California,where he has been a highly successful sales executive. He has announced plans for an autobiography memoir.
Return to Oklahoma
On February 13, 2007, Hall made his first appearance in the State of OklahomaOklahoma
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...
since he left office over thirty years before. He appeared at the Oklahoma History Center
Oklahoma History Center
The Oklahoma History Center is the history museum of the State of Oklahoma. Located across the street from the Governor's mansion at 2401 N. Laird Avenue in Oklahoma City, the museum opened in 2005 and is operated by the Oklahoma Historical Society...
to help launch a new exhibit that features all of the Governors of the State of Oklahoma. Hall remarked that it was "like coming back to heaven." He is currently writing a book about his term as Governor of Oklahoma
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
. It will also feature his views on his prison sentence as well as reflections on the 19 months he served in prison.