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Edmond Augustus Edmondson (April 7, 1919 – December 8, 1990) was an American World War II veteran, lawyer, and politician from Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he served ten terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district from 1953 to 1973.
Ed Edmondson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 2nd district | |
| In office January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1973 | |
| Preceded by | William G. Stigler |
| Succeeded by | Clem McSpadden |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Edmond Augustus Edmondson April 7, 1919 Muskogee, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Died | December 8, 1990 (aged 71) Muskogee, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | June Edmondson |
| Children | James E. Edmondson Drew Edmondson |
| Relatives | J. Howard Edmondson (brother) |
| Alma mater | University of Oklahoma Georgetown University Law Center |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1943–1946 (Navy) 1946-1970 (Navy Reserve) |
served 10 terms in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1953 to 1973. He was defeated in U.S. Senate elections in Oklahoma three times in 1972, 1974, and 1978.
Early life and education
editEdmondson was born and raised in Muskogee, Oklahoma, where he attended public school before going on to attend Muskogee Junior College.[1] His brother, J. Howard Edmondson, also became a politician, and would be elected Governor of Oklahoma and as a member of the U.S. Senate.
He attended the University of Oklahoma, where he was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta, graduating in 1940. After graduating, he joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), serving as a special agent until 1943.[2]
From 1943 to 1946, he served in the United States Navy and continued in the reserves until 1970. He earned a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1947.[3]
U.S. House of Representatives
editEdmondson served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1953 to 1973, representing the state's 2nd congressional district.[4]Edmondson did not sign the 1956 Southern Manifesto. He voted in favor of the Civil Rights Acts of 1957,[5] 1960,[6] 1964,[7] and 1968.[8] Additionally, he voted in favor of the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.[9][10]
He sponsored a bill which authorized the return of the building which housed the Five Civilized Tribes Museum to the city government of Muskogee, Oklahoma.[11]
U.S. Senate elections.
editIn the 1972 election, he was a candidate for the U.S. Senate, but narrowly lost the general election to former Oklahoma Governor Dewey F. Bartlett.[citation needed]
In the 1974 election, he ran for the state's other U.S. Senate seat, losing to incumbent Henry Bellmon by less than 1 percent of the vote.[citation needed]
In the 1978 election, he made a surprise late entry in the U.S. Senate race, losing the Democratic primary runoff to popular Governor David Boren by a wide margin.[citation needed]
Personal life
editEdmondson and his wife June had five children. One of their sons, James E. Edmondson, went on to become an Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice.[12] Another son, Drew Edmondson, was elected Attorney General of Oklahoma and was the Democratic nominee for Governor in the 2018 election.[13]
Death and legacy
editEdmondson died in Muskogee, Oklahoma on December 8, 1990. In 2003, the federal courthouse in Muskogee was renamed the Ed Edmondson United States Courthouse in his honor.[14]
References
edit- ^ Kosmerick, Todd J. "Edmondson, Edmond Augustus (1919-1990)." Archived 2010-06-02 at the Wayback Machine Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History & Culture. Retrieved 10-12-09
- ^ Kosmerick, Todd J. Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History & Culture. Archived 2010-06-02 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 10-12-09
- ^ Kosmerick, Todd J. Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History & Culture. Archived 2010-06-02 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 10-12-09
- ^ Kosmerick, Todd J. Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History & Culture. Archived 2010-06-02 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 10-12-09
- ^ "HR 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957". GovTrack.us.
- ^ "HR 8601. PASSAGE".
- ^ "H.R. 7152. PASSAGE".
- ^ "TO PASS H.R. 2516, A BILL TO ESTABLISH PENALTIES FOR INTERFERENCE WITH CIVIL RIGHTS. INTERFERENCE WITH A PERSON ENGAGED IN ONE OF THE 8 ACTIVITIES PROTECTED UNDER THIS BILL MUST BE RACIALLY MOTIVATED TO INCUR THE BILL'S PENALTIES".
- ^ "S.J. RES. 29. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO BAN THE USE OF POLL TAX AS A REQUIREMENT FOR VOTING IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS". GovTrack.us.
- ^ "TO PASS H.R. 6400, THE 1965 VOTING RIGHTS ACT".
- ^ Five Civilized Tribes Museum website, fivetribes.org; accessed May 14, 2010.
- ^ "2020 Overview of Judicial Retention on Oklahoma Ballot". CAIR Oklahoma. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
- ^ "LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Edmondson has government service in his genes". Muskogee Phoenix. 2018-10-12. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
- ^ "Statement on H.R. 1668." The White House (news release). September 17, 2003. Retrieved 10-12-09
External links
edit- United States Congress. "Ed Edmondson (id: E000054)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.