William G. Stigler

William Grady Stigler
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 2nd district
In office March 28, 1944 – August 21, 1952
Preceded by	John C. Nichols
Succeeded by	Ed Edmondson
Member of the Oklahoma Senate
In office 1924–1932
Personal details
Born	July 7, 1891 (1891-07-07) Stigler, San Bois County, Indian Territory
Died	August 21, 1952 (1952-08-22) (aged 61) Stigler, Haskell County, Oklahoma, U.S.
Citizenship	American Choctaw Nation
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Ona Beller Stigler
Children	Denyse Stigler Elaine Stigler
Alma mater	Northeastern State College University of Oklahoma College of Law
Profession	Attorney
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1918-1919 (US Army) 1925-1938 (Oklahoma National Guard)
Rank	Second Lieutenant
Unit	357th Infantry Regiment of the 90th Division
Battles/wars	World War I

William Grady Stigler (July 7, 1891 – August 21, 1952) was an American lawyer, World War I veteran, and politician who served four terms as and a U.S. Representative from Oklahoma from 1944 to 1952.

Biography

Stigler was a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and is listed as three-eights Choctaw on the Dawes Rolls He was born the son of Joseph S. and Mary Jane Folsom Stigler in Stigler, Haskell County, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). He attended the public schools, and graduated from Northeastern State College, Tahlequah, Oklahoma, in 1912. He also attended the law school of the University of Oklahoma at Norman.

Career

During World War I, he served as a Second Lieutenant in the 357th Infantry Regiment of the 90th Division in 1918 and 1919, with overseas service. He attended the University of Grenoble in France during 1919.

Admitted to the Oklahoma Bar Association in 1920, Stigler commenced practice in Stigler, Oklahoma. He was city attorney of Stigler from 1920 to 1924. He served in the Oklahoma State Senate 1924 to 1932, serving as president pro tempore in 1931. He also served as Lieutenant Colonel in the 45th Division of the Oklahoma National Guard 1925-1938.

Family

On June 7, 1925, he married Ona Beller. The couple had two daughters, Denyse and Elaine.

Congress

Stigler was elected as a Democrat to the Seventy-eighth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Jack Nichols. He was reelected to the Seventy-ninth and to the three succeeding Congresses and served from March 28, 1944, until his death.

He was the only Choctaw elected to the U.S. Congress until the 2022 election of Republican Josh Brecheen.

Death

Stigler died in Stigler, Haskell County, Okla., August 21, 1952 (age 61 years, 45 days). He is interred at Stigler Cemetery, Stigler, Oklahoma.

See also

• List of Native Americans in the United States Congress
• List of United States Congress members who died in office (1950–99)

External links

• United States Congress. "William G. Stigler (id: S000923)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on 2008-03-24
• William G. Stigler Collection and Photograph Series at the Carl Albert Center
• "William G. Stigler". Find a Grave. Retrieved 2008-03-24.