Ed Edmondson (U.S. politician)
Encyclopedia
Edmond "Ed" Augustus Edmondson (April 7, 1919 – December 8, 1990) was a U.S. politician from Oklahoma
.
, where he attended public school before going on to attend Muskogee Junior College. Upon graduation from the University of Oklahoma
in 1940, he joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation
, serving as a special agent until 1943. From 1943 to 1946, he served in the United States Navy
and continued in the reserves until 1970. He earned a law degree from Georgetown University
in 1947.
. In 1974, he ran for the state's other U.S. Senate seat, losing to incumbent Henry Bellmon
by less than 1 percent of the vote. In 1978
, he made his third and final bid for the U.S. Senate, losing the Democratic primary to popular Governor David L. Boren
by a wide margin.
, and Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson
. His brother was J. Howard Edmondson
, a former Governor of Oklahoma
and U.S. Senator. He died in Muskogee, Oklahoma on December 8, 1990. In 2003 the local courthouse was renamed the Ed Edmondson United States Courthouse
in his honor.
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...
.
Early life
He was born and raised in Muskogee, OklahomaMuskogee, Oklahoma
Muskogee is a city in Muskogee County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the county seat of Muskogee County, and home to Bacone College. The population was 38,310 at the 2000 census, making it the eleventh-largest city in Oklahoma....
, where he attended public school before going on to attend Muskogee Junior College. Upon graduation 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 1940, he joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
, serving as a special agent until 1943. From 1943 to 1946, he served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and continued in the reserves until 1970. He earned a law degree from Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
in 1947.
Political career
He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1953 to 1973. In 1972, he was a candidate for the U.S. Senate, but narrowly lost the general election to former 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 1974, he ran for the state's other U.S. Senate seat, losing to incumbent Henry Bellmon
Henry Bellmon
Henry Louis "Harry" Bellmon was an American Republican politician from Oklahoma. He was a member of the Oklahoma Legislature, the 18th and 23rd Governor of Oklahoma , and a two-term United States Senator.-Service in World War II:Bellmon was born in Tonkawa, Oklahoma and graduated from Billings...
by less than 1 percent of the vote. In 1978
United States Senate elections, 1978
The United States Senate election of 1978 in the middle of Democratic President Jimmy Carter's term. The Democrats lost a net of three seats to the Republicans, leaving the balance of the chamber 58-41 in favor of the Democrats....
, he made his third and final bid for the U.S. Senate, losing the Democratic primary to popular Governor 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...
by a wide margin.
Family
He and his wife June had five children, including their sons, Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice James E. EdmondsonJames E. Edmondson
James E. Edmondson , is currently the Chief Justice on the Oklahoma Supreme Court. He was elected to this position by the other eight members of the Supreme Court in 2009 after he was appointed to the Court's District 7 seat by Governor Brad Henry in 2003.James Edmondson was born in Kansas City,...
, and Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson
Drew Edmondson
William Andrew "Drew" Edmondson , is an American lawyer and politician from Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, Edmondson served as the 16th Attorney General of Oklahoma from 1995 to 2011...
. His brother was J. Howard Edmondson
J. Howard Edmondson
James Howard Edmondson was the 16th Governor of Oklahoma from 1959 to 1963. Elected at the age of 33, Edmondson is the youngest governor in the history of the state.- Biography :...
, a former 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...
and U.S. Senator. He died in Muskogee, Oklahoma on December 8, 1990. In 2003 the local courthouse was renamed the Ed Edmondson United States Courthouse
United States Post Office and Courthouse (Muskogee, Oklahoma)
The United States Post Office and Courthouse, in Muskogee, Oklahoma, also known as the Ed Edmondson U.S. Courthouse, was built in 1915. It serves as a government office building and federal courthouse for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. It was listed on the...
in his honor.