Murray, Johnston, 1902-1974

Johnston Murray (July 21, 1902 – April 16, 1974) was an American lawyer, politician, and the 14th governor of Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as governor from 1951 to 1955. Murray was the first Native American to be elected as governor in the United States.

Born in Emet, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma), he grew up in Tishomingo, Oklahoma and Washington, D.C. After graduating from Murray State School of Agriculture, Murray followed his father and brothers to Bolivia's Gran Chaco Province, attempting to establish a private colony there to develop a large ranching operation for four years. When Murray returned to Oklahoma, he worked in oil and gas fields, rising to the role of plant manager. Murray joined and became active in the Democratic Party, which dominated state politics. In 1940 he was elected as chairman of the Oklahoma Electoral College, and he served as a member of the Electoral College in 1948. He had returned to graduate school, and in 1947 received his law degree from Oklahoma City University School of Law.

In 1950, Murray launched a successful bid for the governorship of Oklahoma and was sworn into office in January 1951. Although working with a Democratic-majority legislature, Murray vetoed forty bills in four years, the highest number in forty years of Oklahoma politics. He had some notable successes: he was the first Oklahoma governor to be elected as Chairman of the Southern Governors Conference. He funding of the Turner Turnpike, which had been authorized by the legislature in 1947 and was completed in 1953, during his administration. He was instrumental in the state purchase of fairgrounds in Oklahoma City. In 1954 Murray toured Central and South American countries on behalf of the United States Information Service. He also served as chairman of the Interstate Oil Compact Commission. Due to term limits, he could not run for re-election in 1954.

After his term as Governor, Murray moved to Fort Worth, Texas, where he worked for an oil well servicing company and later a limousine service. After returning to Oklahoma City, Murray formed a law partnership with Whit Pate in February 1960. He ran for Oklahoma State Treasurer in 1962, but finished last in the four-man Democratic primary field. He later worked for the remainder of his career as a consulting attorney for the Oklahoma Department of Welfare. He died in Oklahoma City.