James C. Nance
Encyclopedia
James C. "Jim" Nance was a community newspaper chain publisher and state legislative leader in the U.S. state
of Oklahoma
. Nance served as Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
and President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate
and was a key sponsor and Legislative Chairman of the U.S. Uniform Law Commission (ULC), an advisory panel which drafted and proposed uniform acts and uniform state commerce laws. Nance became known as a legislative expert in a 40 year legislative career as one of two Oklahomans to hold the top posts in both chambers of the Oklahoma Legislature
. The state's largest newspaper, The Daily Oklahoman called Nance "A Legislator's Legislator." Nance is the only Oklahoma House Speaker elected with a bipartisan coalition of Democrats and Republicans.
, Nance McBride Newspapers, owned weekly and daily community newspapers in Weatherford, Tonkawa, Clinton, Hobart, Henryetta, Hominy, Mangum, Anadarko, Sulphur, Alva, Poteau and Antlers. The ownership group included a local operator partner in each community. Nance was also involved in a newspaper venture in Lubbock TX.
Nance continued to write weekly editorials for the Purcell Register on public policy matters until the week he died on September 3, 1984 at the age of 91 in his home at Purcell.
Nance made his first move into Oklahoma politics winning election as State Representative from Stevens County in 1920 and served most of two terms and resigned in 1923 to seek an opportunity in Lubbock TX in a newspaper venture.
Nance returned to the Oklahoma Legislature in 1927 again as a State Representative, but this time elected from Cotton County and served until 1932 when he won the Senate seat that included Cotton County. Nance later moved to Purcell in 1936, and was again elected State Representave from McClain County where he served one term before his 1938 election to the senate seat which included the larger area of Norman and Cleveland County, The University of Oklahoma and also Purcell and McClain county. Nance served 3 terms until 1950, and took a two year break from political life. Nance was then elected in 1952 as State Representative for Purcell and McClain County and served for an additional decade.
, 1929 and 1953, and once President Pro Tem of the Oklahoma Senate
in 1947-49.
. The NCCUSL is the influential non-partisan legislative consortium of commissioners from all 50 U.S. states and the U.S. territories. The group debates areas of public policy where uniform laws would benefit the states and drafts model legislation for consideration by the individual states. Most notably the NCCUSL drafted the landmark legislation Uniform Commercial Code
(UCC) in conjunction with the American Law Institute
.
, OU football coach Bud Wilkinson
, Oklahoma publisher and investor W.P. Bill Atkinson, Ada Jurist Orel Busby, Tulsa Educator Ben G. Henneke, and Ardmore civic leader Mrs. Paul Sutton. Nance served on the Oklahoma Heritage Association's board of directors from 1979 to 1984. Previously, Nance was named to the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1955.
Nance downplayed ideological labels, and as an experienced businessman favored lawsuit reform, and strongly advocated tax cuts whenever economically feasible. During the 1950s and early 1960s, Nance publicly supported civil rights leader Clara Luper
in the struggle to end segregation. In the mid-1960s, Nance editorialized against the Vietnam War
, while advocating a strong national defense and military preparedness. He opposed "Right to Work" type labor legislation.
in his campaigns from 1958 to 1982. Also, Nance's son in law, Ben Langdon served as senior advisor to Gov. Nigh.
In 1975, Nance was subpoenaed as a character witness for the defendant Governor David Hall
in his federal trial. Nance testified that pretrial daily newspaper coverage and media reports of the investigation prevented the defendant, ex-Gov. Hall, from receiving an impartial trial by an unbiased jury.
, U.S. Senator. In 1984, Nance endorsed the re-election campaign of Boren in an editorial published a few weeks prior to his death in September. Nance had endorsed Boren in 1978 for U.S. Senate, and 1974 in the race for Governor. Nance predicted "Boren will likely be sought out for national leadership."
In his retirement years, Nance was a regular commentator on OETA
, the local PBS station, on its public affairs program panel Oklahoma Week in Review. Nance wrote regular weekly editorials on public policy matters in The Purcell Register. Nance mostly wrote non-partisan public policy articles and yet tended to favor Democrat candidates, and was a strong advocate of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and funding for infrastructure projects including highways and county roads, bridges, schools, colleges, universities and other infrastructure. Over 2500 public policy editorials by Nance are at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City.
Justice; and niece Loretta Nance Pace, wife of District Judge Tom Pace of Norman, OK;
Nance's sister, Edna Nance Harding, was the wife of University of Arkansas
President Arthur M. Harding. Dr. Harding was a well known professor of Mathematics and Astronomy and frequent lecturer on the Chautauqua
speaking circuit.
Nance's son James C. Nance Jr. was born in Rogers Arkansas, and his birth certificate lists Nance's occupation as Produce Salesman. Daughters Rosamond and Bettye were born in Chandler, Oklahoma.
in 1982. The resolution by the OU Regents commended Nance for his sponsorship of legislation authorizing the issuance of bonds for funding the construction of buildings and dormitories built at the campus of The University of Oklahoma which was located within his state senate legislative district (Cleveland
, McClain
, and Garvin
counties).
Oklahoma Gov. George Nigh wrote and delivered the funeral eulogy for Memorial services held in Purcell for Nance on September 6, 1984
The Norman Transcript said in a Sept. 4 1984 article that Nance was an effective senator for the Norman and Purcell areas and particularly a strong supporter of The University of Oklahoma, during the period of rapid growth of The University of Oklahoma, following WWII. The Transcript article stated that Nance led a successful statewide campaign to create an independent Board of Regents for The University of Oklahoma.
In 1994, Nance's granddaughter Nance Langdon Diamond of Shawnee became the first woman nominated by the Oklahoma Democratic party for the statewide office of Lt. Governor. Diamond served in 2002 as transition advisor for Gov. Brad Henry
Previously in 1990 Ms. Diamond, who as a young child had sat on her grandfather's lap as he presided in the legislative chambers, became the first woman to address a joint session of the Oklahoma Legislature as she spoke in favor of legislation providing services to disadvantaged, neglected and abused children.
In 1993 the bridge was renamed "James C. Nance Memorial Bridge" in a move sponsored by Sen. Trish Weedn (D-Purcell), a friend of Nance.
in Lawton, OK is named jointly for Nance and Mr. Dave Boyer, a former state Senator in Lawton, the action was announced by Cameron President John Coffey. In the earlier portion of Nance's political career his legislative district was Cotton and Stephens counties
of The Chickasaw Nation
of Oklahoma. James was Chairman of the Intertribal Council of The Five Civilized Tribes
. The event held at Purcell High School auditorium honored Nance for his years of community service and service to Native Americans in the United States
. Nance's wife Ayleene was a registered member of The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and had unregistered ancestors in The Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma. Mrs.Nance was an enthusiast of Native American art
, culture and heritage of indigenous peoples of the Americas
. Mrs. Nance wrote a biographical article about her great-great grandparents Captain James Reynolds and wife Felicity Turnbull Reynolds,who was a Native American. The article on the pioneer residents of Eastern Oklahoma community of Cameron, was published in The Chronicles of Oklahoma
by The Oklahoma Historical Society
.
Daily Oklahoman, September 1984 news article
Daily Oklahoman, September 1981 news article
James C. Nance, Newspaperman and Lawmaker
Norman Transcript Newspaper
3-07-05
Story of Oklahoma Newspapers
authored by Ed Carter
Published by Oklahoma Press Association
When Both Sides Worked Together
Norman Transcript Newspaper
2-27-05
Nance Speech to Norman Rotary Club, Oct. 1982
Norman Transcript
Oklahoma Statues Citationized 1968
Title 69. Roads, bridges
Chapter 1, Art. 16, Sec. 1612 James C. Nance Bridge
Cameron University www.cameron.edu/info/campus_map/buildings/nance_boyer
Oklahoma Heritage Association
The Purcell Register newspaper www.purcellregister.com
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
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...
. Nance served as Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
The Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives is the presiding officer of the lower house of the Oklahoma Legislature, the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The Speaker exercises administrative and procedural functions in the House, but most importantly remains a representative of his...
and President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate
President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate
The President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate is the second-highest-ranking official of the Oklahoma Senate and the highest-ranking State Senator. The Oklahoma Constitution states the Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma serves ex officio as President of the Senate, and is the highest-ranking...
and was a key sponsor and Legislative Chairman of the U.S. Uniform Law Commission (ULC), an advisory panel which drafted and proposed uniform acts and uniform state commerce laws. Nance became known as a legislative expert in a 40 year legislative career as one of two Oklahomans to hold the top posts in both chambers of the Oklahoma Legislature
Oklahoma Legislature
The Legislature of the State of Oklahoma is the biennial meeting of the legislative branch of the government of Oklahoma. It is bicameral, comprising the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Oklahoma Senate, with all members elected directly by the people. The House of Representatives has 101...
. The state's largest newspaper, The Daily Oklahoman called Nance "A Legislator's Legislator." Nance is the only Oklahoma House Speaker elected with a bipartisan coalition of Democrats and Republicans.
Historic Bipartisan election as House Speaker
Nance was a lifelong registered Democrat, yet made Oklahoma history in being elected as Oklahoma's first and only bipartisan coalition Speaker of the House in 1929. Nance was elected with a coalition of dissident Democrats and the Republican caucus of legislators which voting together defeated House Speaker Allan Street, the Democrat establishment candidate. Nance is one of two men in Oklahoma who have been elected both Speaker of the House of Representatives and President Pro Tempore of the Senate. Tom Anglin is the other former official. Nance has the additional distinction of serving twice as Speaker and lengthy service as a life member of the U.S. Uniform Law Commission (ULC).Oklahoma Newspaperman 1918-1984
Nance was a publisher of community newspapers in Oklahoma beginning at Chandler in 1918, he and wife Ayleene had owned newspapers in Marlow, Walters and Purcell. A joint partnership with Joe McBride of AnadarkoAnadarko, Oklahoma
Anadarko is a city in Caddo County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 6,645 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Caddo County.-Early History:Anadarko got its name when its post office was established in 1873...
, Nance McBride Newspapers, owned weekly and daily community newspapers in Weatherford, Tonkawa, Clinton, Hobart, Henryetta, Hominy, Mangum, Anadarko, Sulphur, Alva, Poteau and Antlers. The ownership group included a local operator partner in each community. Nance was also involved in a newspaper venture in Lubbock TX.
Nance continued to write weekly editorials for the Purcell Register on public policy matters until the week he died on September 3, 1984 at the age of 91 in his home at Purcell.
House of Representatives and State Senate 1920-1950; 1952-1962
According to The Daily Oklahoman front page story of Sept. 4 1984,Nance made his first move into Oklahoma politics winning election as State Representative from Stevens County in 1920 and served most of two terms and resigned in 1923 to seek an opportunity in Lubbock TX in a newspaper venture.
Nance returned to the Oklahoma Legislature in 1927 again as a State Representative, but this time elected from Cotton County and served until 1932 when he won the Senate seat that included Cotton County. Nance later moved to Purcell in 1936, and was again elected State Representave from McClain County where he served one term before his 1938 election to the senate seat which included the larger area of Norman and Cleveland County, The University of Oklahoma and also Purcell and McClain county. Nance served 3 terms until 1950, and took a two year break from political life. Nance was then elected in 1952 as State Representative for Purcell and McClain County and served for an additional decade.
Legislative Leadership Roles
In his public service career beginning in 1920 and lasting until 1962, Nance was twice elected Speaker of 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...
, 1929 and 1953, and once President Pro Tem of the Oklahoma Senate
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....
in 1947-49.
U.S. Uniform Law Commissioner
Nance was a recognized national policy leader in drafting uniform laws governing business transactions for the individual states. He served as Legislative Chairman of the U.S. Uniform Law Commission sponsored by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State LawsNational Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws
The National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws is a non-profit, unincorporated association commonly referred to as the U.S. Uniform Law Commission. It consists of commissioners appointed by each state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the United States...
. The NCCUSL is the influential non-partisan legislative consortium of commissioners from all 50 U.S. states and the U.S. territories. The group debates areas of public policy where uniform laws would benefit the states and drafts model legislation for consideration by the individual states. Most notably the NCCUSL drafted the landmark legislation Uniform Commercial Code
Uniform Commercial Code
The Uniform Commercial Code , first published in 1952, is one of a number of uniform acts that have been promulgated in conjunction with efforts to harmonize the law of sales and other commercial transactions in all 50 states within the United States of America.The goal of harmonizing state law is...
(UCC) in conjunction with the American Law Institute
American Law Institute
The American Law Institute was established in 1923 to promote the clarification and simplification of American common law and its adaptation to changing social needs. The ALI drafts, approves, and publishes Restatements of the Law, Principles of the Law, model codes, and other proposals for law...
.
Delegate to 1952 National Convention
Nance was a 1952 delegate to the Democrat National Convention in Chicago IL. He was a supporter of U.S. Diplomat Averell Harriman at the Democrat National convention which nominated Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson to face Republican party nominee, General Dwight Eisenhower, the eventual winner in the U.S. Presidential election of 1952.Oklahoma Hall of Fame/Oklahoma Heritage Association
Back home in Oklahoma, Nance served as Master of Ceremonies for the Oklahoma Heritage Association 1963 Oklahoma Hall of Fame awards ceremony which inducted U.S. astronaut Gordon CooperGordon Cooper
Leroy Gordon Cooper, Jr. , also known as Gordon Cooper, was an American aeronautical engineer, test pilot and NASA astronaut. Cooper was one of the seven original astronauts in Project Mercury, the first manned space effort by the United States...
, OU football coach Bud Wilkinson
Bud Wilkinson
Charles Burnham "Bud" Wilkinson was an American football player, coach, broadcaster, and politician. He served as the head football coach at the University of Oklahoma from 1947 to 1963, compiling a record of 145–29–4. His Oklahoma Sooners won three national championships and 14...
, Oklahoma publisher and investor W.P. Bill Atkinson, Ada Jurist Orel Busby, Tulsa Educator Ben G. Henneke, and Ardmore civic leader Mrs. Paul Sutton. Nance served on the Oklahoma Heritage Association's board of directors from 1979 to 1984. Previously, Nance was named to the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1955.
Law background
Nance was a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association and had clerked in a law office in Arkansas, and used his legal background in drafting legislation while serving in the legislature. Nance used his legal knowledge in business transactions, yet did not regularly practice law for the public.Nance downplayed ideological labels, and as an experienced businessman favored lawsuit reform, and strongly advocated tax cuts whenever economically feasible. During the 1950s and early 1960s, Nance publicly supported civil rights leader Clara Luper
Clara Luper
Clara Shepard Luper was a civic leader, retired schoolteacher, and a pioneering leader in the American Civil Rights Movement...
in the struggle to end segregation. In the mid-1960s, Nance editorialized against the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, while advocating a strong national defense and military preparedness. He opposed "Right to Work" type labor legislation.
Political Alliances
In Oklahoma politics, Nance was a close ally of Gov. George NighGeorge Nigh
George Patterson Nigh , is a popular civic leader in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Nigh served as the 17th and the 22nd Governor of Oklahoma. He was the first Oklahoma Governor to be re-elected and the first to win all 77 counties in the state...
in his campaigns from 1958 to 1982. Also, Nance's son in law, Ben Langdon served as senior advisor to Gov. Nigh.
In 1975, Nance was subpoenaed as a character witness for the defendant Governor David Hall
David Hall (Oklahoma governor)
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.- Early life :David Hall was born in Oklahoma City, and...
in his federal trial. Nance testified that pretrial daily newspaper coverage and media reports of the investigation prevented the defendant, ex-Gov. Hall, from receiving an impartial trial by an unbiased jury.
Civic Engagement in Retirement
In 1983 at age 90, Nance and Chief District Judge J. Kenneth Love were hosts for a non-partisan town hall meeting of area civic leaders and reception honoring Molly and David L. BorenDavid 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...
, U.S. Senator. In 1984, Nance endorsed the re-election campaign of Boren in an editorial published a few weeks prior to his death in September. Nance had endorsed Boren in 1978 for U.S. Senate, and 1974 in the race for Governor. Nance predicted "Boren will likely be sought out for national leadership."
In his retirement years, Nance was a regular commentator on OETA
Oklahoma Educational Television Authority
OETA , is a state network of Public Broadcasting Service member Non-commercial educational Public television stations covering the entire state of Oklahoma....
, the local PBS station, on its public affairs program panel Oklahoma Week in Review. Nance wrote regular weekly editorials on public policy matters in The Purcell Register. Nance mostly wrote non-partisan public policy articles and yet tended to favor Democrat candidates, and was a strong advocate of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and funding for infrastructure projects including highways and county roads, bridges, schools, colleges, universities and other infrastructure. Over 2500 public policy editorials by Nance are at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City.
Personal life
Nance and his wife, Rosa Ayleene Carr Nance, were both Presbyterian and their 3 children were mostly raised in Walters, with prior residences in Chandler and Marlow: James C. Nance Jr. was born in Rogers AR, Mary Rosamond Nance McCurdy, and Bettye Nance Langdon were born in Chandler OK. The youngest child, Bettye, attended Purcell High School in her senior year. Nance had 6 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, and 1 great great grandchild. Other close family of Nance included nephew Bob McBrinn,Editor of the El Paso Herald-Post; niece Mary Frances Newbern of Fayetteville, AR; nephew David Newbern, Arkansas Supreme CourtArkansas Supreme Court
The Arkansas Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Arkansas. Since 1925, it has consisted of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices, and at times Special Justices are called upon in the absence of a regular justice...
Justice; and niece Loretta Nance Pace, wife of District Judge Tom Pace of Norman, OK;
Early life
Nance was born August 27, 1893 in Rogers Arkansas, and enjoyed a typical 19th century rural farm life. His early years were spent raising farm animals and horses while working in the family apple orchard. In a speech to the Norman Rotary Club in 1982, Nance said that when he was a teenager his horse got sick and he knew he had to act fast to sell it before it died. With the money he made from the horse sale, Nance moved into town. He then began buying and selling produce during the daytime and working as a law clerk in the night time for his older brother John Nance, a Rogers AR attorney, who later became Arkansas State Senate Majority Leader. The educational experience of the legal clerkship in his formative years proved beneficial, as Nance was skilled in business transactions, land title work and could recite from memory complex legal descriptions. Nance used this law background as a legislator, as an investor and business owner.Nance's sister, Edna Nance Harding, was the wife of University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
President Arthur M. Harding. Dr. Harding was a well known professor of Mathematics and Astronomy and frequent lecturer on the Chautauqua
Chautauqua
Chautauqua was an adult education movement in the United States, highly popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Chautauqua assemblies expanded and spread throughout rural America until the mid-1920s. The Chautauqua brought entertainment and culture for the whole community, with...
speaking circuit.
Nance's son James C. Nance Jr. was born in Rogers Arkansas, and his birth certificate lists Nance's occupation as Produce Salesman. Daughters Rosamond and Bettye were born in Chandler, Oklahoma.
Legacy
Nance received the Distinguished Service Citation from 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 1982. The resolution by the OU Regents commended Nance for his sponsorship of legislation authorizing the issuance of bonds for funding the construction of buildings and dormitories built at the campus of The University of Oklahoma which was located within his state senate legislative district (Cleveland
Cleveland County, Oklahoma
Cleveland County is a county in the central part of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 255,755 at the 2010 census. Its county seat is Norman. Cleveland County is part of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, McClain
McClain County, Oklahoma
McClain County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 27,740 at the 2000 census. Its county seat is Purcell. McClain County is part of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is in the top 3 fastest growing counties in Oklahoma with a growth rate of...
, and Garvin
Garvin County, Oklahoma
Garvin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 27,210. Its county seat is Pauls Valley.-History:...
counties).
Oklahoma Gov. George Nigh wrote and delivered the funeral eulogy for Memorial services held in Purcell for Nance on September 6, 1984
The Norman Transcript said in a Sept. 4 1984 article that Nance was an effective senator for the Norman and Purcell areas and particularly a strong supporter of The University of Oklahoma, during the period of rapid growth of The University of Oklahoma, following WWII. The Transcript article stated that Nance led a successful statewide campaign to create an independent Board of Regents for The University of Oklahoma.
In 1994, Nance's granddaughter Nance Langdon Diamond of Shawnee became the first woman nominated by the Oklahoma Democratic party for the statewide office of Lt. Governor. Diamond served in 2002 as transition advisor for Gov. 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...
Previously in 1990 Ms. Diamond, who as a young child had sat on her grandfather's lap as he presided in the legislative chambers, became the first woman to address a joint session of the Oklahoma Legislature as she spoke in favor of legislation providing services to disadvantaged, neglected and abused children.
Purcell/Lexington Bridge
On July 1, 1968 civic leaders in Purcell and Lexington, led by banker and businessman Sam Ewing, requested the State Highway Commission name the US-77/SH-39 bridge the James C. Nance Bridge, to honor his legislative service, as OK title 69, Chapter 1, Article 16 Section 1612 established the James C. Nance Bridge.In 1993 the bridge was renamed "James C. Nance Memorial Bridge" in a move sponsored by Sen. Trish Weedn (D-Purcell), a friend of Nance.
Norman Bridge
The Norman Transcript reported in a front page article on Sept. 4 1984 that Nance, as Speaker of The Oklahoma House of Representatives left his mark in many places in the Norman-Purcell area and led the campaign to replace a dangerous, narrow bridge across the South Canadian at Norman with the present multilane I-35 structure.Nance-Boyer Hall at Cameron University
Nance-Boyer Hall at Cameron UniversityCameron University
Cameron University is a four-year, state-funded university located in Lawton, Oklahoma, that offers more than 50 degrees through two-year, four-year and graduate programs. The degree programs emphasize the liberal arts, science and technology and graduate and professional studies...
in Lawton, OK is named jointly for Nance and Mr. Dave Boyer, a former state Senator in Lawton, the action was announced by Cameron President John Coffey. In the earlier portion of Nance's political career his legislative district was Cotton and Stephens counties
Jim and Ayleene Nance Park
A small park area 1.5 acres (6,070.3 m²) of central city greenbelt area of Walnut Creek in Purcell was named Jim and Ayleene Nance Park in 2000. The greenspace park fronts 7th street, 8th Street and Jefferson Street and was purchased and donated to the City of Purcell by family members of Jim and Ayleene Nance's three children: James C. Nance Jr., Rosamond Nance McCurdy and Betty Nance Langdon.Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame
In 1982, Nance was honored by the Oklahoma Press Association and named to the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame. Nance had previously served on the Oklahoma Press Association Board of Directors.Native American Service Award from Chickasaw Nation
In April of 1982, Nance was honored by Governor Overton James and Lt. Governor Bill AnoatubbyBill Anoatubby
Bill Anoatubby is the present Governor of the Chickasaw Nation, a position he has held since 1987. From 1979 to 1987, Anoatubby served two terms as Lieutenant Governor in the administration of Gov. Overton James[-Early life:...
of The Chickasaw Nation
Chickasaw Nation
The Chickasaw Nation is a federally recognized Native American nation, located in Oklahoma. They are one of the members of the Five Civilized Tribes. The Five Civilized Tribes were differentiated from other Indian reservations in that they had semi-autonomous constitutional governments and...
of Oklahoma. James was Chairman of the Intertribal Council of The Five Civilized Tribes
Five Civilized Tribes
The Five Civilized Tribes were the five Native American nations—the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole—that were considered civilized by Anglo-European settlers during the colonial and early federal period because they adopted many of the colonists' customs and had generally good...
. The event held at Purcell High School auditorium honored Nance for his years of community service and service to Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
. Nance's wife Ayleene was a registered member of The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and had unregistered ancestors in The Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma. Mrs.Nance was an enthusiast of Native American art
Native American art
Visual arts by indigenous peoples of the Americas encompasses the visual artistic traditions of the indigenous peoples of the Americas from ancient times to the present...
, culture and heritage of indigenous peoples of the Americas
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
. Mrs. Nance wrote a biographical article about her great-great grandparents Captain James Reynolds and wife Felicity Turnbull Reynolds,who was a Native American. The article on the pioneer residents of Eastern Oklahoma community of Cameron, was published in The Chronicles of Oklahoma
The Chronicles of Oklahoma
The Chronicles of Oklahoma is the scholarly journal published by the Oklahoma Historical Society. It is a quarterly publication and was first published in 1921....
by The Oklahoma Historical Society
Oklahoma Historical Society
The Oklahoma Historical Society is an agency of the government of Oklahoma dedicated to promotion and preservation of Oklahoma's history and its people by collecting, interpreting, and disseminating knowledge and artifacts of Oklahoma....
.
Sources
Directory of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State Election BoardDaily Oklahoman, September 1984 news article
Daily Oklahoman, September 1981 news article
James C. Nance, Newspaperman and Lawmaker
Norman Transcript Newspaper
3-07-05
Story of Oklahoma Newspapers
authored by Ed Carter
Published by Oklahoma Press Association
When Both Sides Worked Together
Norman Transcript Newspaper
2-27-05
Nance Speech to Norman Rotary Club, Oct. 1982
Norman Transcript
Oklahoma Statues Citationized 1968
Title 69. Roads, bridges
Chapter 1, Art. 16, Sec. 1612 James C. Nance Bridge
Cameron University www.cameron.edu/info/campus_map/buildings/nance_boyer
Oklahoma Heritage Association
The Purcell Register newspaper www.purcellregister.com