Curtis L. Lawson Explained

Curtis L. Lawson (1935–2008) was an American state politician from Tulsa, Oklahoma. In 1964 he was one of the first three African Americans elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives since A. C. Hamlin in 1908.^{[1] [2]}

Lawson represented a district in Tulsa from 1965 to 1969. He was an advocate for civil rights legislation,^[3] and also introduced a controversial abortion rights bill in 1967.^[4] After his legislative service he encountered legal difficulties, including serving a prison term for embezzlement (for which he was later pardoned).^{[5] [6] [7]}

He is featured in the Oklahoma History Center's One Man One Vote exhibit.

External links

• "One [of the First African-Americans to Re-enter the Oklahoma Legislature, Curtis L. Lawson Dies at Age 72"], PRWeb, May 1, 2008

Notes and References

1. Mick Hinton, "Young, minority lawmakers highlight changes", Tulsa World, February 4, 2007. via HighBeam Research.
2. Book: Richard M. Bernard. Bradley R. Rice. Sunbelt Cities: Politics and Growth since World War II. 23 June 2014. University of Texas Press. 978-0-292-76982-3. 226.
3. Paul English, "Major civil rights gain seen for state", Lawton Constitution, January 7, 1968—via Newspapers.com .
4. Book: Jeremy Bonner. The Road to Renewal: Victor Joseph Reed and Oklahoma Catholicism, 1905-1971. 2008. CUA Press. 978-0-8132-1507-5. 2192–2193.
5. Donnelle Eller, "Health clinic ex-board member indicted", Tulsa World, July 11, 1991; Julie DelCour, "Jury Finds Former Morton Official Guilty of 2 Crimes", Tulsa World, October 25, 1991.
6. Ray Gibson, "Judge assails law firm for court 'fraud'", Chicago Tribune, March 3, 1983.
7. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4093998/the_lawton_constitution/ "Former Solon Claims Cruel Lockup"