Honorific-Prefix: | Representative |
Susan Winchester | |
Office: | Oklahoma Secretary of Licensing and Regulation |
Governor: | Kevin Stitt |
Term Start: | February 2021 |
Predecessor: | Position established |
State House2: | Oklahoma |
District2: | 47th |
Term Start2: | 1998 |
Term End2: | 2008 |
Predecessor2: | Dan Ramsey |
Successor2: | Leslie Osborn |
Party: | Republican |
Spouse: | James R. Winchester |
Alma Mater: | University of Oklahoma |
Profession: | educator, business woman |
Susan Winchester was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives to represent District 47 in 1998 where she served until 2008. She was elected Whip for the Republican Caucus after her first term, and in 2005 became the first woman to serve as Speaker Pro Tempore, the second highest position in the House.[1]
Susan Winchester, born in Chickasha, Oklahoma, earned her bachelor's and master's degrees at the University of Oklahoma. Winchester co-owned and operated American Dusting Company and Chickasha Flying Service from 1976 to 1989, after which she worked as a coordinator for Adult Training and Development at Canadian Valley Technology Center. In 1992 she started Winchester Group, an educational group that provides training and consulting to businesses.[2]
Winchester was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 1998 to succeed Dan Ramsey[3] and served until 2008. During her time in office, she served as Chair of the Banking Subcommittee of the Economic Development and Financial Services Committee. In 2005 Winchester became the first female and only the second Republican to serve as Speaker Pro Tempore, the second highest position in the House, since statehood.[4]
In 2003 Winchester was chosen as Legislator of the Year by the Oklahoma Economic Development Council, Independent Insurance Agents of Oklahoma and Community Action Councils of Oklahoma. In 2002 she was inducted into the Oklahoma Institute of Child Advocacy's Hall of Fame.[5]
In February 2021, she was appointed the first Oklahoma Secretary of Licensing and Regulation by Governor Kevin Stitt.[6] In 2023, she led the presidential search advisory committee for the University of Central Oklahoma and supported the hiring of her Todd Lamb.[7]
Winchester currently resides in Chickasha, Oklahoma with her husband, Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice James R. Winchester, and their son.
Winchester is widely involved in a number of organizations, including:
Winchester has been recognized for her achievements with numerous awards, including: