Susan Winchester Explained

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]

Biography

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]

Political career

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.

Community Involvement

Winchester is widely involved in a number of organizations, including:

Awards and achievements

Winchester has been recognized for her achievements with numerous awards, including:

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. News: The Journal Record names Susan Winchester the 2006 Woman of the Year . The Journal Record . Sep 15, 2006 . Jessica . Mitchell.
  2. Web site: Susan Winchester -- Women of the Oklahoma Legislature Oral History Project . Oklahoma State Library.
  3. News: Ervin . Chuck . Keating's primary opponent off ballot . 10 September 2023 . . July 15, 1998.
  4. News: GOP Caucus names Leadership Choice . Daily Oklahoman . November 16, 2004 . June 24, 2009.
  5. News: Fifty Making a Difference . The Journal Record . Sep 24, 2004 . June 24, 2009.
  6. News: DenHoed . Andrea . Susan Winchester, Jennifer Grigsby nominated for new cabinet positions in latest shuffle . 10 September 2023 . NonDoc . February 24, 2021.
  7. News: Martinez-Keel . Nuria . UCO professors voice 'deep concerns' with process leading to former lt. governor's hire . 10 September 2023 . . May 23, 2023.