Theodore Marshall Risenhoover
Encyclopedia
Theodore Marshall "Ted" Risenhoover (November 3, 1934 - September 10, 2006) was a U.S. Representative
from Oklahoma
during the 1970s.
Risenhoover was born in Haskell County, Oklahoma
, in a town called East Liberty. He graduated from Stigler High School in Stigler, Oklahoma
, then served in the United States Air Force
beginning in 1955. While in the Air Force, Risenhoover attended the University of Alabama
from 1960 to 1961, receiving a Bachelor of Arts
degree.
Discharged from the Air Force in 1963, Risenhoover became the part owner and president of a printing business in Tahlequah, Oklahoma
two years later.
A Democrat, Risenhoover served as an Oklahoma crime commissioner from 1970 to 1974 and as a delegate to the Democratic National Mid-term Convention in 1974. That same year, Risenhoover was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 2nd Congressional District, assuming office on January 3, 1975.
He served two terms in the House, then lost the 1978 Democratic nomination for his seat to Mike Synar
after The Washington Post ran a lifestyle article about Risenhoover that mentioned he slept on a "heart shaped waterbed" and the Synar campaign seized the opportunity to question the incumbent's judgement by printing and widely distributing copies of the controversial news article.
Risenhoover died in Claremore, Oklahoma
.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
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...
during the 1970s.
Risenhoover was born in Haskell County, Oklahoma
Haskell County, Oklahoma
Haskell County is a county located in the southeast quadrant of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 11,792. Its county seat is Stigler. The county is named in honor of Charles N. Haskell, who was the first governor of Oklahoma....
, in a town called East Liberty. He graduated from Stigler High School in Stigler, Oklahoma
Stigler, Oklahoma
Stigler is a city in Haskell County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 2,731 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Haskell County.-Geography:Stigler is located at...
, then served in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
beginning in 1955. While in the Air Force, Risenhoover attended the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
from 1960 to 1961, receiving 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...
degree.
Discharged from the Air Force in 1963, Risenhoover became the part owner and president of a printing business in Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Tahlequah is a city in Cherokee County, Oklahoma, United States located at the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. It was founded as a capital of the original Cherokee Nation in 1838 to welcome those Cherokee forced west on the Trail of Tears. The city's population was 15,753 at the 2010 census. It...
two years later.
A Democrat, Risenhoover served as an Oklahoma crime commissioner from 1970 to 1974 and as a delegate to the Democratic National Mid-term Convention in 1974. That same year, Risenhoover was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 2nd Congressional District, assuming office on January 3, 1975.
He served two terms in the House, then lost the 1978 Democratic nomination for his seat to Mike Synar
Mike Synar
Michael Lynn "Mike" Synar was an American Democratic politician who represented Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district in Congress for eight terms.-Early life and career:...
after The Washington Post ran a lifestyle article about Risenhoover that mentioned he slept on a "heart shaped waterbed" and the Synar campaign seized the opportunity to question the incumbent's judgement by printing and widely distributing copies of the controversial news article.
Risenhoover died in Claremore, Oklahoma
Claremore, Oklahoma
Claremore is a city and the county seat of Rogers County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 18,581 at the 2010 census, a 17.1 percent increase from 15,873 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area and home to Rogers State University...
.