J. D. McCarty

J. D. McCarty (August 28, 1916 - December 30, 1980) was Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, serving three consecutive terms. The Democratic party, to which he belonged, had already named him as its nominee for a fourth term when he lost his reelection bid to Representative Vondel Smith in the 1966 election.[1]

J. D. McCarty
BornAugust 28, 1916
Waurika, Oklahoma
DiedDecember 30, 1980
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
NationalityUnited States
OccupationAttorney, politician, judge
Known forThree terms as Speaker of the Oklahoma State House of Representatives

In 1967, he was indicted and convicted for Federal income tax evasion. Reportedly he had failed to report the receipt of $12,000 in bribes.[lower-alpha 1] He was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, which he served in the Texarkana Federal Correctional Institution, where he completed his sentence in June 1969.[1]

Biography

McCarty attended Oklahoma University, where he majored in economics and government. He also worked for the Daily Oklahoman at night, while attending classes during the day. In World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy in the South Pacific.[1]

He was first elected to the House in 1940. By the time he rose to the speakership in 1960, the Tulsa World called him, "...the most powerful person in the legislature." The World also said that some political observers in the state said that he was the most powerful speaker in the state's history.[2]

Family

The parents of J. D. McCarty were Edward B.(1889–1971) and Cora L. McCarty (1899–1984). A sister, Ethel L. Chuculate (nee McCarty (1921-2003) survived him. He married Bessie M. McCarty (1938-1976), and they had two children, Michael (1940-2010) and Patricia (1941-2013). According to the Find-a grave website relatives, all of these are buried in Resthaven Gardens Cemetery, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.[3] Patricia was cremated and her ashes spread in the foothills of Roosevelt Lake in AZ on Easter Day 2014.

Notes
  1. The Tulsa World later reported that the check was from the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce.[2]

References
  1. "Former Oklahoma House Speaker J.D. McCarty dead." UPI Archives. January 1, 1981. Accessed August 29, 2018.
  2. "Knowing the territory paid off for McCarty." Tulsa World. September 29, 1992. Accessed December 16, 2018.
  3. "J D McCarty." Find a Grave. Accessed December 19, 2018.
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