G. T. Blankenship
Encyclopedia
G. T. Blankenship is an American
lawyer
and Republican politician
from Oklahoma
. A former Oklahoma State Representative
, Blankenship served as the 10th Attorney General of Oklahoma
(the first Republican to hold that position). After serving as Attorney General, he would enter private law practice in Oklahoma City and served two terms on the University of Oklahoma
's Board of Regents.
and received a Bachelor of Arts
. He was then admitted to the OU College of Law
where he earned a Bachelor of Laws
and became an attorney
.
. He served in the State House until 1967. He was elected by his fellow Republicans to serve as the House Minority Leader
from 1965–1967, making him the highest ranking Republican in the House at that time.
In the 1966 general election, Blankenship became the first Republican in state history to be elected Attorney General of Oklahoma
. He succeed Charles Nesbitt
. Blankenship served one term as Attorney General from 1967-1971.
After leaving office, Blankenship opened his private practice of law in Oklahoma City
. He would later become Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Bank of Nichols Hills in Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
. While engaged in private practice, Blankenship would become actively involved with the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce.
in 1990 by Republican Governor of Oklahoma
Henry Bellmon
. He served two terms as chairman of the board of regents in 1995 and 1996. Governor Frank Keating
reappointed him to the board in 1997. He was elected chairman again in 2003. His second term ended in 2004, after which he retired.
The Sarkeys Foundation has established the G.T. Blankenship Chair for Alzheimer's and Aging Research at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. Blankenship and his wife, Libby, established the G.T. and Libby Blankenship Chair of History of Freedom, the purpose of which is to emphasize the importance of undergraduate teaching and focus on historical and contemporary issues of freedom.
in 2001.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and Republican politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Oklahoma
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...
. A former Oklahoma State Representative
Oklahoma House of Representatives
The Oklahoma House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oklahoma Legislature, the legislative body of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Its members are responsible for introducing and voting on bills and resolutions, providing legislative oversight for state agencies, and helping to craft the...
, Blankenship served as the 10th Attorney General of Oklahoma
Attorney General of Oklahoma
The Attorney General of Oklahoma is the State Attorney General for the state of Oklahoma. The Attorney General serves as the chief legal and law enforcement officer of the State of Oklahoma. The Attorney General is responsible for providing legal advise to the various agencies and departments of...
(the first Republican to hold that position). After serving as Attorney General, he would enter private law practice in Oklahoma City and served two terms on 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...
's Board of Regents.
Early life
Blankenship attended the University of OklahomaUniversity 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...
and received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
. He was then admitted to the OU College of Law
University of Oklahoma College of Law
The University of Oklahoma College of Law is an ABA-certified law school located on the University of Oklahoma campus in Norman, Oklahoma. Currently, the College of Law has an enrollment of 527 law students....
where he earned a Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
and became an attorney
Attorney at law
An attorney at law in the United States is a practitioner in a court of law who is legally qualified to prosecute and defend actions in such court on the retainer of clients. Alternative terms include counselor and lawyer...
.
Political career
In 1960, Blankenship was elected to the Oklahoma House of RepresentativesOklahoma House of Representatives
The Oklahoma House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oklahoma Legislature, the legislative body of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Its members are responsible for introducing and voting on bills and resolutions, providing legislative oversight for state agencies, and helping to craft the...
. He served in the State House until 1967. He was elected by his fellow Republicans to serve as the House Minority Leader
Minority leader
In U.S. politics, the minority leader is the floor leader of the second largest caucus in a legislative body. Given the two-party nature of the U.S. system, the minority leader is almost inevitably either a Republican or a Democrat, with their counterpart being of the opposite party. The position...
from 1965–1967, making him the highest ranking Republican in the House at that time.
In the 1966 general election, Blankenship became the first Republican in state history to be elected Attorney General of Oklahoma
Attorney General of Oklahoma
The Attorney General of Oklahoma is the State Attorney General for the state of Oklahoma. The Attorney General serves as the chief legal and law enforcement officer of the State of Oklahoma. The Attorney General is responsible for providing legal advise to the various agencies and departments of...
. He succeed Charles Nesbitt
Charles Nesbitt
Charles R. Nesbitt was an Oklahoma attorney and politician. Nesbitt held several political positions in the Oklahoma state government, having served as the 9th Attorney General of Oklahoma , a member of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission , and as Oklahoma Secretary of Energy under Governor David...
. Blankenship served one term as Attorney General from 1967-1971.
After leaving office, Blankenship opened his private practice of law in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
. He would later become Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Bank of Nichols Hills in Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
Nichols Hills is a city in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States, and a part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. The population was 4,056 at the 2000 census. Nichols Hills is a bedroom community and is completely cut off from further growth. It is surrounded by Oklahoma City and The...
. While engaged in private practice, Blankenship would become actively involved with the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce.
University of Oklahoma
Blankenship was appointed to the board of regents of the University of OklahomaUniversity 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 1990 by Republican 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...
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...
. He served two terms as chairman of the board of regents in 1995 and 1996. Governor Frank Keating
Frank Keating
Francis Anthony "Frank" Keating is an American politician from Oklahoma. Keating served as the 25th Governor of Oklahoma. His first term began in 1995 and ended in 1999...
reappointed him to the board in 1997. He was elected chairman again in 2003. His second term ended in 2004, after which he retired.
The Sarkeys Foundation has established the G.T. Blankenship Chair for Alzheimer's and Aging Research at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. Blankenship and his wife, Libby, established the G.T. and Libby Blankenship Chair of History of Freedom, the purpose of which is to emphasize the importance of undergraduate teaching and focus on historical and contemporary issues of freedom.
Personal life
Regent Blankenship and his wife, Libby, live in Oklahoma City and have three adult children. He was inducted as a member of the Oklahoma Hall of FameOklahoma Hall of Fame
The Oklahoma Hall of Fame was established in 1927 by Anna B. Korn. To be eligible for induction, an individual must satisfy the following criteria:* Reside in Oklahoma or be a former resident of the state....
in 2001.