Howard Hendrick
Encyclopedia
Howard Hendrick is a Republican
politician
from the US state of Oklahoma
. Hendrick was serving as the Oklahoma Secretary of Human Services
, having been appointed by Democratic
Governor of Oklahoma
Brad Henry
in 2003.
Hendrick had previously served as the Oklahoma Secretary of Health and Human Services
under former Republican
Governor Frank Keating
until that post was split into two positions under Henry. Concurrent with his service as Secretary, Hendrick has served as the Director of Oklahoma Department of Human Services
since July 1, 1998. Hendrick also is a former Oklahoma State Senator
, having served from 1987 until 1998.
Hendrick is one of three Cabinet Secretaries appointed by former Governor Frank Keating
to be held over by Governor Brad Henry
, the others being: Human Resources Secretary Oscar B. Jackson Jr.
and Veterans Affairs Secretary Norman Lamb.
. He graduated summa cum laude from Southern Nazarene University
earning his undergraduate degree in accounting. During his years at Southern Nazarene, he was active in Circle K International, the collegiate affiliate of Kiwanis
International, holding numerous elective offices, including international president.
Three years after graduating from SNU, Hendrick passed the Certified Public Accountant’s examination and earned both an Masters of Business Administration and a law degree
from the University of Oklahoma
. Upon graduation from law school, he was elected to Order of the Coif
in recognition of his legal scholarship for graduating in the top 10 percent of his law school class. He practiced business, real estate and tax law for 17 years.
in 1987, representing parts of northwest Oklahoma City
, Bethany, Oklahoma
, Yukon, Oklahoma
and Warr Acres, Oklahoma
. He would serve in the Senate until 1998.
During his tenure, he amassed a career roll-call voting record in excess of 99 percent. He served two years as the Republican
Floor Leader in the State Senate. For many years, he served as the Senate's representative to the Oklahoma State Pension Commission
and the legislative representative to SoonerStart, the Interagency Coordinating Council for Early Childhood Interventions. Hendrick has also served on several national committees for legislative organizations, primarily sharing state solutions to America’s health care and welfare problems.
by the State Commission on Human Services on July 1, 1998. With offices in all 77 counties of Oklahoma, Hendrick leads a staff of nearly 7,300 employees and administers a $2.1 billion budget. Hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans are affected daily by more than 40 state and federal human services programs administered by his Department.
to run for Governor of Oklahoma
in 2002, Hendrick was appointed by Governor Frank Keating
, and fellow Republican
, as his Secretary of Health and Human Services
. When Democrat
Brad Henry
was elected, Hendrick was asked to stay on during his administration.
When Henry took office, he issued an executive order that split the position of Secretary of Health and Human Services into two different posts: the Secretary of Health and the Secretary of Human Services. Hendrick was appointed by Henry to fill the latter. From 2003-2011 as Secretary for Human Services, Hendrick was responsible for overseeing the Oklahoma Department of Human Services
, the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services
, and the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs
. He also continued to serve concurrently as the Director of Human Services.
He is active in numerous, local and national, civic, professional and church organizations. He is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association. He serves on the Executive Committee for the National Council of State Human Services Administrators. He serves on the boards of the National Children’s Alliance, Nazarene Theological Seminary and the American Public Human Services Association.
Locally, he served as chairman of the state employees State Charitable Campaign for seven years and serves on the United Way of Greater Oklahoma City Advisory Board of Trustees. He has served on the church board at Bethany First Church of the Nazarene for many years. The Oklahoma Institute of Child Advocacy named him to the Child Advocates Hall of Fame in 2003. In 2004, he was one of four Americans to receive the National Public Service Award for leadership in public administration from the American Society of Public Administration and National Academy of Public Administration.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from the US state of 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...
. Hendrick was serving as the Oklahoma Secretary of Human Services
Oklahoma State Cabinet
The Cabinet of the Governor of Oklahoma is a body of the most senior appointed officials of the executive branch of the government of Oklahoma. Originally an informal meeting between the Governor of Oklahoma and various government officials, the Governor's Cabinet has evolved into a major part of...
, having been appointed by Democratic
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...
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...
Brad Henry
Brad Henry
Charles Bradford "Brad" Henry was the 26th Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected governor in 2002...
in 2003.
Hendrick had previously served as the Oklahoma Secretary of Health and Human Services
Oklahoma State Cabinet
The Cabinet of the Governor of Oklahoma is a body of the most senior appointed officials of the executive branch of the government of Oklahoma. Originally an informal meeting between the Governor of Oklahoma and various government officials, the Governor's Cabinet has evolved into a major part of...
under former Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
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...
until that post was split into two positions under Henry. Concurrent with his service as Secretary, Hendrick has served as the Director of Oklahoma Department of Human Services
Oklahoma Department of Human Services
The Oklahoma Department of Human Services is an agency of the government of Oklahoma responsible for providing help to individuals and families in need through public assistance programs and managing services for seniors and people with disabilities. The Department is governed by the Commission on...
since July 1, 1998. Hendrick also is a former Oklahoma State Senator
Oklahoma Senate
The Oklahoma Senate is the upper house of the two houses of the Legislature of Oklahoma, the other being the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The total number of Senators is set at 48 by the Oklahoma Constitution....
, having served from 1987 until 1998.
Hendrick is one of three Cabinet Secretaries appointed by former 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...
to be held over by Governor Brad Henry
Brad Henry
Charles Bradford "Brad" Henry was the 26th Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected governor in 2002...
, the others being: Human Resources Secretary Oscar B. Jackson Jr.
Oscar B. Jackson Jr.
Oscar B. Jackson Jr. is an American civil servant from the state of Oklahoma. Jackson is the current Oklahoma Secretary of Human Resources and Administration, having served in that position since he was appointed by Governor of Oklahoma David Walters in 1991...
and Veterans Affairs Secretary Norman Lamb.
Education and early career
Hendrick was born and raised in Bethany, OklahomaBethany, Oklahoma
Bethany is a city in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States, and a part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. The population was 20,307 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bethany is located at ....
. He graduated summa cum laude from Southern Nazarene University
Southern Nazarene University
Southern Nazarene University is a Christian liberal arts college located in Bethany, Oklahoma, United States.-History:The history of the institution is one of various mergers and, therefore, one of differing institutions. While SNU claims its founding date as 1899, that founding date refers to an...
earning his undergraduate degree in accounting. During his years at Southern Nazarene, he was active in Circle K International, the collegiate affiliate of Kiwanis
Kiwanis
Kiwanis International is an international, coeducational service club founded in 1915. It is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Current membership is 240,000 members in 7,700 clubs in 80 nations...
International, holding numerous elective offices, including international president.
Three years after graduating from SNU, Hendrick passed the Certified Public Accountant’s examination and earned both an Masters of Business Administration and a law degree
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
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...
. Upon graduation from law school, he was elected to Order of the Coif
Order of the Coif
The Order of the Coif is an honor society for United States law school graduates. A student at an American law school who earns a Juris Doctor degree and graduates in the top 10 percent of his or her class is eligible for membership if the student's law school has a chapter of the...
in recognition of his legal scholarship for graduating in the top 10 percent of his law school class. He practiced business, real estate and tax law for 17 years.
Oklahoma Senate
Hendrick was elected to the Oklahoma SenateOklahoma Senate
The Oklahoma Senate is the upper house of the two houses of the Legislature of Oklahoma, the other being the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The total number of Senators is set at 48 by the Oklahoma Constitution....
in 1987, representing parts of northwest 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...
, Bethany, Oklahoma
Bethany, Oklahoma
Bethany is a city in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States, and a part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. The population was 20,307 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bethany is located at ....
, Yukon, Oklahoma
Yukon, Oklahoma
Yukon is a city in Canadian County, Oklahoma, United States and is part of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area. The population was 22,709 at the 2010 census....
and Warr Acres, Oklahoma
Warr Acres, Oklahoma
Warr Acres is a city in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States, and a part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. It was established after World War II by C.B. Warr, a dynamic businessman, builder, and commercial developer. The population was 9,735 at the 2000 census.-History:The Warr Acres...
. He would serve in the Senate until 1998.
During his tenure, he amassed a career roll-call voting record in excess of 99 percent. He served two years as the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Floor Leader in the State Senate. For many years, he served as the Senate's representative to the Oklahoma State Pension Commission
Oklahoma State Pension Commission
The Oklahoma State Pension Commission is an Oklahoma state agency responsible for analyzing the performance of the State's public pension systems. The Commission also advices the Governor of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Legislature on necessary action to improve the pension systems...
and the legislative representative to SoonerStart, the Interagency Coordinating Council for Early Childhood Interventions. Hendrick has also served on several national committees for legislative organizations, primarily sharing state solutions to America’s health care and welfare problems.
Career at DHS
Hendrick was appointed Director of the Oklahoma Department of Human ServicesOklahoma Department of Human Services
The Oklahoma Department of Human Services is an agency of the government of Oklahoma responsible for providing help to individuals and families in need through public assistance programs and managing services for seniors and people with disabilities. The Department is governed by the Commission on...
by the State Commission on Human Services on July 1, 1998. With offices in all 77 counties of Oklahoma, Hendrick leads a staff of nearly 7,300 employees and administers a $2.1 billion budget. Hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans are affected daily by more than 40 state and federal human services programs administered by his Department.
Secretary under Governors Keating and Henry
Following the resignation of Jerry RegierJerry Regier
Gerald P. "Jerry" Regier is an American businessman and politician from Oklahoma who is best known as first President of the Family Research Council....
to run for 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...
in 2002, Hendrick was appointed by 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...
, and fellow Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, as his Secretary of Health and Human Services
Oklahoma State Cabinet
The Cabinet of the Governor of Oklahoma is a body of the most senior appointed officials of the executive branch of the government of Oklahoma. Originally an informal meeting between the Governor of Oklahoma and various government officials, the Governor's Cabinet has evolved into a major part of...
. When Democrat
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...
Brad Henry
Brad Henry
Charles Bradford "Brad" Henry was the 26th Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected governor in 2002...
was elected, Hendrick was asked to stay on during his administration.
When Henry took office, he issued an executive order that split the position of Secretary of Health and Human Services into two different posts: the Secretary of Health and the Secretary of Human Services. Hendrick was appointed by Henry to fill the latter. From 2003-2011 as Secretary for Human Services, Hendrick was responsible for overseeing the Oklahoma Department of Human Services
Oklahoma Department of Human Services
The Oklahoma Department of Human Services is an agency of the government of Oklahoma responsible for providing help to individuals and families in need through public assistance programs and managing services for seniors and people with disabilities. The Department is governed by the Commission on...
, the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services
Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services
The Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services is an agency of the government of Oklahoma responsible for providing people with physical, mental and visual disabilities with the opportunity to obtain employment and independent living through counseling, job training and other individualized...
, and the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs
Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs
The Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs is an agency of the state of Oklahoma headquartered in Oklahoma City that is responsible for planning and coordinating statewide juvenile justice and delinquency prevention services. OJA is also responsible for operating juvenile correctional facilities in...
. He also continued to serve concurrently as the Director of Human Services.
Personal life
His most important commitments are to his family. He and his wife, Tracy, have been married for 34 years. They have four children: Chelsey who is married; with two children of her own. Cally who is in college; Christiana who is in College; and Hudson who is in high school. His nights and weekends are stuffed with baseball, basketball, soccer, musicals and homework.He is active in numerous, local and national, civic, professional and church organizations. He is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association. He serves on the Executive Committee for the National Council of State Human Services Administrators. He serves on the boards of the National Children’s Alliance, Nazarene Theological Seminary and the American Public Human Services Association.
Locally, he served as chairman of the state employees State Charitable Campaign for seven years and serves on the United Way of Greater Oklahoma City Advisory Board of Trustees. He has served on the church board at Bethany First Church of the Nazarene for many years. The Oklahoma Institute of Child Advocacy named him to the Child Advocates Hall of Fame in 2003. In 2004, he was one of four Americans to receive the National Public Service Award for leadership in public administration from the American Society of Public Administration and National Academy of Public Administration.