Norman Lamb (politician)
Encyclopedia
Colonel
Norman Lamb, USA
(ret.), is an American
soldier
and politician
from Enid
in the U.S. state
of Oklahoma
. Lamb served as the Oklahoma Secretary of Veterans Affairs from 1995 to 2011, having been originally appointed by Governor of Oklahoma
Frank Keating
and retained under Governor Brad Henry
.
Lamb was 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 Health and Human Services Secretary Howard Hendrick
.
, and attended schools in Cordell, Putnam City, Midwest City, Tuttle, Moore, and Enid. He graduated from Cameron Junior College and from the University of Oklahoma
with a Bachelors of Science
in Math and Education. After college, Lamb began a career in law. He served as Assistant County Attorney for Chickasha, Oklahoma
(1963–1964), as Assistant Municipal Counselor of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
(1964–1965), and then as Chief Prosecutor and Assistant District Attorney for Garfield County, Oklahoma
from 1967 to 1970.
Lamb served in the United States Army
and retired after 33 years active and reserve duty as a Colonel. During his active duty, he served at Ft. Bliss, Texas
on Air Defense/Guided Missiles. His interest in serving his country extended to serving as a West Point (USMA) Liaison (Recruiting) to Oklahoma from 1986 to 1990. Lamb represented Enid in the Oklahoma State Senate.
A Republican, Lamb was first elected to the Oklahoma Senate
in 1971, and continued serving unti 1988, even serving as the chair of the Republican State Convention in 1976. During his Senate career, he served on the following committees: Agriculture, Economic Development, Education, Human Resources, Judiciary, Retirement, Revenue and Taxation, and Standards and Ethics. In 1976, Lamb was voted one of the Top 10 Most Effective Senators by Peers and one of the Top 10 Most Popular Senators by Peers.
appointed Colonel Lamb as his Secretary of Veterans Affairs in 1995. Lamb would serve as Keating's only VA Secrerary. Following the election of Brad Henry
in 2002, Lamb was asked to stay on under Henry as his Secretary of Veterans Affairs. As the Secretary, Lamb is charged with ensuring all Oklahoma veterans and their families receive all possible benefits and provide health services and long-term skilled care in a residential environment to all qualified veterans residing in the state by overseeing the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs
.
He and his wife, Belva M. Clark Lamb, have three grown children: Kim Akers, Fawn Ingmire, and Todd Lamb
. Todd served as an aide to Governor Frank Keating, is serving as an Oklahoma State Senator
and was elected Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma
in the 2010 general election.
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
Norman Lamb, USA
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
(ret.), is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Enid
Enid, Oklahoma
Enid is a city in Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States. In 2010, the population was 49,379, making it the ninth largest city in Oklahoma. It is the county seat of Garfield County. Enid was founded during the opening of the Cherokee Outlet in the Land Run of 1893, and is named after Enid, a...
in the U.S. state
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...
. Lamb served as the Oklahoma Secretary of Veterans Affairs from 1995 to 2011, having been originally appointed by 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...
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 retained under 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...
.
Lamb was 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 Health and Human Services Secretary Howard Hendrick
Howard Hendrick
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....
.
Education and early career
Lamb was born in Canute, OklahomaCanute, Oklahoma
Canute is a town in Washita County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 541 at the 2010 census.-History:Canute was established in the early 1900s and located on the now-defunct Rock Island Railroad. Following the advent of the automobile, Canute became a popular stop along U.S...
, and attended schools in Cordell, Putnam City, Midwest City, Tuttle, Moore, and Enid. He graduated from Cameron Junior College 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...
with a Bachelors of Science
Bachelors Of Science
Bachelors of Science is the stage name of Phil "Rene", Chris and Lukeino. They met in California and formed a successful act, quickly becoming one of the top drum and bass producers in the electronic music scene...
in Math and Education. After college, Lamb began a career in law. He served as Assistant County Attorney for Chickasha, Oklahoma
Chickasha, Oklahoma
Chickasha is a city in and the county seat, business and employment center of Grady County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 15,850 at the 2000 census. Chickasha is home to the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma and hosts an annual Festival of Light celebration located at...
(1963–1964), as Assistant Municipal Counselor of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma 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...
(1964–1965), and then as Chief Prosecutor and Assistant District Attorney for Garfield County, Oklahoma
Garfield County, Oklahoma
Garfield County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma named after President James A. Garfield. As of 2010, the population was 60,580. Enid is the county seat and largest city within Garfield County...
from 1967 to 1970.
Lamb served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and retired after 33 years active and reserve duty as a Colonel. During his active duty, he served at Ft. Bliss, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
on Air Defense/Guided Missiles. His interest in serving his country extended to serving as a West Point (USMA) Liaison (Recruiting) to Oklahoma from 1986 to 1990. Lamb represented Enid in the Oklahoma State Senate.
A Republican, Lamb was first elected to 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 1971, and continued serving unti 1988, even serving as the chair of the Republican State Convention in 1976. During his Senate career, he served on the following committees: Agriculture, Economic Development, Education, Human Resources, Judiciary, Retirement, Revenue and Taxation, and Standards and Ethics. In 1976, Lamb was voted one of the Top 10 Most Effective Senators by Peers and one of the Top 10 Most Popular Senators by Peers.
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Governor Frank KeatingFrank 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...
appointed Colonel Lamb as his Secretary of Veterans Affairs in 1995. Lamb would serve as Keating's only VA Secrerary. Following the election of 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 2002, Lamb was asked to stay on under Henry as his Secretary of Veterans Affairs. As the Secretary, Lamb is charged with ensuring all Oklahoma veterans and their families receive all possible benefits and provide health services and long-term skilled care in a residential environment to all qualified veterans residing in the state by overseeing the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs
Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs
The Oklahoma Department of Veteran Affairs is a department of the state of Oklahoma under the supervision of the Oklahoma Secretary of Veterans Affairs charged with providing medical and rehabilitative services for veterans and their families....
.
Personal life
He is an active member of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Enid and is currently a Sunday school teacher and a deacon. He has been a long-time member of the Enid Lions Club and the Enid Chamber of Commerce. Lamb's hobbies include after-dinner speaking, high school and college football officiating, and jogging. He participates in a weekly radio show, "Stand Your Ground" on KGWA-960, as the political conservative.He and his wife, Belva M. Clark Lamb, have three grown children: Kim Akers, Fawn Ingmire, and Todd Lamb
Todd Lamb (politician)
Todd Lamb is a Republican United States politician from Oklahoma who is currently serving as the 16th Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma, was a member of the Oklahoma Senate from 2004 to 2011. For the 52nd Oklahoma Legislature, Lamb's fellow Republican Senators elected him as their Majority Floor...
. Todd served as an aide to Governor Frank Keating, is serving as an 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....
and was elected Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma
Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma
The Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma is the second-highest executive official of the state government of Oklahoma. As first in the gubernatorial line of succession, the Lieutenant Governor becomes the new Governor of Oklahoma upon the death, resignation, or removal of the Governor...
in the 2010 general election.