Victor Wickersham

Victor Eugene Wickersham (February 9, 1906 – March 15, 1988) was an American politician and a U.S. Representative from Oklahoma.

Victor Eugene Wickersham
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 7th district
In office April 1, 1941 – January 3, 1947
Preceded by	Sam C. Massingale
Succeeded by	Preston E. Peden
In office January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1953
Preceded by	Preston E. Peden
Succeeded by	District eliminated
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 6th district
In office January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1957
Preceded by	Toby Morris
Succeeded by	Toby Morris
In office January 3, 1961 – January 3, 1965
Preceded by	Toby Morris
Succeeded by	Jed Johnson, Jr.
Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
In office January 3, 1971 – January 3, 1979
In office February 9, 1988 – March 15, 1988
Personal details
Born	February 9, 1906 (1906-02-09) Lone Rock, Arkansas
Died	March 15, 1988 (1988-03-16) (aged 82) Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Citizenship	United States
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Jessie Blaine Stiles Wickersham Lorene Dennis Wickersham
Children	LaMelba Wickersham Nelda Wickersham Galen Wickersham Victor Wickersham II
Profession	court clerk building contractor real estate agent insurance agent investment broker politician

Early life and education

Born on a farm near Lone Rock, Arkansas, Wickersham was the son of Frank Morrell and Lillie Mae Sword Wickersham. He moved to Mangum, Oklahoma, with his parents in 1915 and was educated in the public schools of Oklahoma.

Career

Employed in the office of the county clerk of Greer County, Oklahoma from 1924 to 1926, Wickersham was appointed as court clerk of Greer County from 1926 to 1935. On June 30, 1929, he married Jessie Blaine Stiles of Mangum. As the county clerk, he issued his own marriage license. Four children were born to the marriage, LaMelba, Nelda, Galen, and Victor Wickersham II.[1]

Wickersham served as chief clerk of the board of affairs of the State of Oklahoma in 1935 and 1936. He engaged as a building contractor in Oklahoma City in 1937 and 1938 and in the life insurance business 1938-1941. Wickersham also worked as a real estate, insurance, and investment broker.[2]

Congressional tenure

Wickersham was elected as a Democrat to the 77th Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Sam C. Massingale. He was reelected to the 78th and 79th Congresses and served from April 1, 1941, to January 3, 1947. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1946, but was reelected to the 81st and to the three succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1957). He was not renominated in 1956 and 1958. He succeeded in his election to the 87th and to the 88th Congresses (January 3, 1961 – January 3, 1965).[3] He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1964 to the 89th Congress.

Wickersham did not sign the 1956 Southern Manifesto, and voted for the Twenty-Fourth Amendment (abolishing the poll tax) in 1962, but voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1964.[4]

State legislature

In 1984 Wickersham's wife, Jessie, died. He married Lorene Dennis in 1986. He served as member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from January 3, 1971 to January 3, 1979, and again from February 9, 1988, until his death.[5] He was the oldest state legislator in office in 1988 at the age of 82.[5]

Death

Wickersham died in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, on March 15, 1988 (age 82 years, 35 days). He is interred at Riverside Cemetery, Mangum, Oklahoma.[6]

References

1. "Victor Wickersham". Oklahoma Historical Society. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
2. "Victor Wickersham". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
3. "Victor Wickersham". Govtrack US Congress. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
4. "H.R. 7152. PASSAGE".
5. Hudson, Geneva Johnston (AuthorHouse, 2005). Statesman or Rogue: Elected to Serve. ISBN 1-4208-2503-8
6. "Victor Wickersham". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved 5 June 2013.

External links

• United States Congress. "Victor Wickersham (id: W000439)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Victor E. Wickersham Collection and Photograph Series at the Carl Albert Center
• Victor Wickersham at Find a Grave

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Sam C. Massingale	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 7th congressional district 1941–1947	Succeeded by Preston E. Peden
Preceded by Preston E. Peden	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 7th congressional district 1949–1953	Succeeded by District inactive
Preceded by Toby Morris	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 6th congressional district 1953–1957	Succeeded by Toby Morris
Preceded by Toby Morris	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 6th congressional district 1961–1965	Succeeded by Jed Johnson, Jr.