{{Short description|American politician (1927–2025)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = George Nigh | image = George Nigh.jpg | caption = Nigh in 1980 | order = 17th and 22nd Governor of Oklahoma | lieutenant = Spencer Bernard | term_start = January 3, 1979 | term_end = January 12, 1987 | predecessor = David Boren | successor = Henry Bellmon | term_start1 = January 6, 1963 | term_end1 = January 14, 1963 | predecessor1 = J. Howard Edmondson | successor1 = Henry Bellmon | office2 = 8th and 10th Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma | governor2 = Dewey F. Bartlett<br>David Hall<br>David Boren | term_start2 = January 9, 1967 | term_end2 = January 3, 1979 | predecessor2 = Leo Winters | successor2 = Spencer Bernard | governor3 = J. Howard Edmondson | term_start3 = January 12, 1959 | term_end3 = January 6, 1963 | predecessor3 = Cowboy Pink Williams | successor3 = Leo Winters | office4 = 9th Chair of the National Lieutenant Governors Association | term_start4 = 1970 | term_end4 = 1971 | predecessor4 = Raymond J. Broderick | successor4 = Roger Jepsen | office5 = President of the University of Central Oklahoma | term_start5 = July 1, 1992 | term_end5 = June 30, 1997 | predecessor5 = Bill Lillard | successor5 = W. Roger Webb | state_house6 = Oklahoma | district6 = Pittsburg County | term_start6 = 1951 | term_end6 = 1959 | predecessor6 = Lonnie Brown | successor6 = Ray Van Hooser | birth_name = George Patterson Nigh | birth_date = {{birth date|1927|6|9}} | birth_place = McAlester, Oklahoma, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2025|7|30|1927|6|9}} | death_place = Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. | party = Democratic | spouse = {{marriage|Donna Skinner|1963}} | relatives = William Nigh (brother) | children = 1 | education = {{ubl |Eastern Oklahoma State College |East Central University (BA)}} | allegiance = {{flag|United States|1912}} | branch = {{flag|United States Navy|1912}} | branch_label = Branch | service_years = 1945–1946 | service_years_label = Service years | battles = World War II | battles_label = Conflict }}
'''George Patterson Nigh''' (June 9, 1927 – July 30, 2025) was an American politician and civic leader from the state of Oklahoma. Nigh served as the 17th and the 22nd governor of Oklahoma and as the eighth and tenth lieutenant governor of Oklahoma. He was the first Oklahoma governor to be re-elected and the first to win all 77 counties in the state. Additionally, short term vacancies in the governor's office twice resulted in Nigh assuming gubernatorial duties while serving as lieutenant governor.
Following his service as governor, Nigh served as president of the University of Central Oklahoma. Prior to his election to statewide office, he worked as a teacher and legislator.
==Early life and career== Nigh was born in McAlester, Oklahoma, on June 9, 1927, and was the son of Wilbur R. and Irene Crockett Nigh.<ref name="EOHC-Nigh">{{Cite web |date=January 15, 2010 |url=http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=NI007 |title=Nigh, George Patterson (1927– ). |website=Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture| last=Burke| first=Bob |publisher=Oklahoma Historical Society|access-date=July 30, 2025}}</ref> He had four siblings and worked at a grocery store as a child before graduating from McAlester High School in 1945. He joined the United States Navy in 1945 and served on the USS ''Ranger'' before leaving the navy to attend college in 1946. He graduated from Eastern Oklahoma State College with an associate's in liberal arts in 1948 and East Central University with a teaching degree in 1950.<ref>{{cite web | title=LibGuides: University Presidents: George Nigh | url=https://library.uco.edu/presidents/nigh }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=George Nigh, former Oklahoma governor, legislator and veteran, dead at age 98 | url=https://www.koco.com/article/george-nigh-dead-98-former-oklahoma-governor-legislator/65520760 }}</ref> While a student at East Central University in 1950, he ran for the Oklahoma House of Representatives and won.<ref name="Oklahoma obit" /> At the time, he was the youngest member ever elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Calhoun |first=Sharon Cooper |title=Oklahoma Adventures |last2=English |first2=Billie Joan |publisher=ACP, Inc. |year=2000 |isbn=0-9619484-8-5 |pages=233 |language=English}}</ref>
He was the brother of William Nigh, an Oklahoma representative.<ref name="odlnigh">[http://www.odl.state.ok.us/oar/governors/Nigh.htm Governor George P. Nigh], [http://www.odl.state.ok.us/oar/governors/ 100 Years of Oklahoma Governors](accessed May 27, 2013) {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232932/http://www.odl.state.ok.us/oar/governors/ |date=March 3, 2016 }}</ref>
==Political career== thumb|left|182px|Nigh in 1972, during his time as Lieutenant Governor From 1951 to 1959, Nigh alternated between service in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, and as a teacher in the McAlester public schools. During his tenure in the state legislature, he introduced legislation designating "Oklahoma!" as the state song.<ref name="ctech">[http://www.okcareertech.org/about/foundation/hall-of-fame/inductees/governor-george-nigh George Nigh CareerTech Hall of Fame Bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529034619/https://okcareertech.org/about/foundation/hall-of-fame/inductees/governor-george-nigh |date=2023-05-29 }} (accessed June 30, 2013)</ref> Nigh ran for Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma in 1958; he finished second in the Democratic primary behind Cowboy Pink Williams with 80,727 votes (18.77%) to Williams' 176,171 votes (40.97%). Nigh defeated Williams in the runoff with 302,050 votes (61.32%) to 190,530 (38.68%).<ref name="1958-1966 Results">{{cite web |title=1958-1966 Results |url=https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/elections/election-results/results-prior-to-1980/1958-1966-results.pdf |website=okhouse.gov |publisher=Oklahoma State Election Board |access-date=August 1, 2025}}</ref> Williams himself had finished second behind incumbent lieutenant governor James E. Berry in the 1954 Democratic primary, before beating him in the runoff.<ref name="1952-1956 Results">{{cite web |title=1952-1956 Results |url=https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/elections/election-results/results-prior-to-1980/1952-1956-results.pdf |website=oklahoma.gov |publisher=Oklahoma State Election Board |access-date=August 1, 2025}}</ref> In the general election, Nigh beat Republican George B. Sherritt in a landslide by 384,431 votes (76.86%) to 100,068 (20.01%).<ref name="1958-1966 Results" /> Nigh served from January 12, 1959, to January 3, 1963.<ref name="ctech"/> Taking office at age 31, he became the youngest lieutenant governor in the United States.<ref name="ctech"/>
Democratic Governor J. Howard Edmondson did not seek reelection in the 1962 election, so Nigh ran to succeed him. He came fourth in the Democratic primary with 84,404 votes (15.80%), behind National Commander of the American Legion Preston J. Moore, businessman W. P. Atkinson, and former governor Raymond Gary.<ref name="1958-1966 Results" /> Atkinson went on to win the runoff and lose the general election to Republican Henry Bellmon, but Nigh would get a chance to serve as governor. Democratic U.S. Senator Robert S. Kerr died in office on January 1, 1963, and Edmondson resigned his office 5 days later; Nigh succeeded Edmondson as governor for the remaining days of the term, and utilized his brief status as governor to appoint his predecessor to the vacant Senate seat. On January 14, Bellmon took office as governor.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bicknell |first=Brooks |date=January 15, 1963 |title=Off the Cuff.... |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-alva-review-courier-off-the-cuff/177917837/ |page=1 |newspaper=The Alva Review-Courier |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
Nigh had remained a bachelor until after he left public office for the first time. He met his future wife, Donna Mashburn, following his initial nine-day term as governor in 1963 and married her on October 19, 1963.<ref>{{cite web |title=University Presidents - George Nigh |url=https://library.uco.edu/presidents/nigh |publisher=University of Central Oklahoma |access-date=28 May 2023}}</ref> When they met, Donna already had a young son. The Nighs later had a daughter together.<ref name="EOHC-Nigh"/>
Nigh ran for Lieutenant Governor again in 1966. He was unopposed in the Democratic primary in that election and his re-election efforts, winning in 1966 with 328,580 votes (51.50%);<ref name="1958-1966 Results" /> in 1970 with 382,249 votes (57.41%), and in 1974 with 545,686 votes (72.36%).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=555738|title=Our Campaigns - OK Lt. Governor Race - Nov 03, 1970|access-date=7 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=517085|title=Our Campaigns - OK Lt. Governor Race - Nov 05, 1974|access-date=7 September 2016}}</ref> In 1970, he beat future district judge Ralph Gordon Thompson. Nigh served as the tenth lieutenant governor from January 9, 1967, to January 3, 1979, making him the second longest-serving Oklahoma lieutenant governor in state history with 16 years of service.<ref name="odlnigh"/> In 1969, during his time serving as lieutenant governor, Nigh assisted a number of college students with the creation and founding of the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature (OIL), which still functions today as a collegiate model government program with delegations at over 20 colleges and universities across the state.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.OKOIL.org|title=Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature |access-date=27 April 2021}}</ref>
===Governor of Oklahoma=== When incumbent governor David Boren chose not to seek reelection, Nigh ran for Governor again in 1978. He came first in the Democratic primary with 276,910 votes (49.94%), narrowly short of avoiding a runoff against Oklahoma Attorney General Larry Derryberry, who took 208,055 votes (37.53%).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=388886|title=Our Campaigns - OK Governor - D Primary Race - Aug 22, 1978|access-date=7 September 2016}}</ref> However, in the runoff, Nigh defeated him easily, with 269,681 votes (57.73%) to Derryberry's 197,457 (42.27%).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=388885|title=Our Campaigns - OK Governor - D Runoff Race - Sep 19, 1978|access-date=7 September 2016}}</ref> Nigh defeated Republican Ron Shotts in the general election with 402,240 votes (51.74%) to Shotts' 367,055 (47.22%)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=225344|title=Our Campaigns - OK Governor Race - Nov 07, 1978|access-date=7 September 2016}}</ref> and thereby became the first Oklahoma Governor to serve a second term. Nigh took office five days early, as a result of outgoing Governor David Boren's swearing-in as a U.S. Senator. He ran for a second term in 1982 becoming the third governor to do so, and defeated token opposition in the Democratic primary with 379,301 votes (82.63%)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=755165|title=Our Campaigns - OK Governor - D Primary Race - Aug 24, 1982|access-date=7 September 2016}}</ref> as well as Republican State Auditor Tom Daxon in the general election by 548,159 votes (62.07%) to 332,207 (37.62%),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=225345|title=Our Campaigns - OK Governor Race - Nov 02, 1982|access-date=7 September 2016}}</ref> carrying all 77 of the state's counties. It was the first reelection of an Oklahoma Governor. At the inaugural address for his second full term, Nigh quoted the ''Pogo'' comic strip: "We have found the enemy, and he is us."<ref>{{Cite book |last=McInnis |first=Kent |editor-last1=Cowan |editor-first1=Amy |editor-last2=Wood |editor-first2=Anthony |year=2023 |title=Semper Fly |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4H3nEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT14 |location=Bentonville, Arkansas |page=14 |publisher=Hat Creek |isbn=978-1-63373-887-4 |lccn=2023951103 |via=Google Books}}</ref>
===Executive Branch Reform Act of 1986=== Nigh appointed the Nigh Commission to recommend changes to state government.<ref name="odlnigh"/> During his two consecutive terms of office, Nigh signed the Executive Branch Reform Act of 1986, which regrouped the executive branch into agency function categories, although stopping short of consolidation of the more than 250 agencies, boards, and commissions.<ref name="odlnigh"/> Nigh also signed into law the Oklahoma Franchise Tax Code, which established the franchise tax in Oklahoma.<ref name="odlnigh"/>
===Other accomplishments=== Nigh is also credited with having increased the numbers of minorities serving on state boards and commissions, as well as management of state agencies. He appointed the first two women, Yvonne Kauger and Alma Wilson to serve as Justices of the Oklahoma Supreme Court.<ref name="EOHC-Nigh"/>
==Later life and death== Following his term as governor, Nigh served as president of the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) from 1992 to 1997. During his tenure as UCO president, Nigh supervised construction projects that transformed UCO from a mostly commuter institution to much more of a regional university with residential dormitories.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 9, 1996 |title=Nigh |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-oklahoman-nigh/177917403/ |page=2 |newspaper=The Daily Oklahoman |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> He served on the board of directors of JCPenney<ref>{{cite web |title=J.C. Penney Company Annual Report, 1986 |url=https://archive.org/details/jcpenneyannualreports/jcpenney1986/page/n5/mode/2up?q=Nigh |publisher=J.C. Penney |access-date=6 August 2025 |page=6 |format=web.archive.org |date=1987}}</ref> and IBC Bank.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ohehs.org/hof/georgenigh.html |title=Hall of Fame Member Biographies: George Nigh |publisher=Oklahoma Higher Education Heritage Society}}</ref>
In 1990, he was inducted into the Oklahoma CareerTech Hall of Fame<ref name="ctech"/> and in 1992, he received the Jim Thorpe Lifetime Achievement Award. From November 2005 to April 2006, he served as Interim Director of the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation, during the agency's search for a permanent director. Nigh and his wife Donna appeared in walk-on roles in episode 19 of the NBC soap opera ''Texas'' (playing themselves as Governor and First Lady of Oklahoma). The episode aired in August 1980. Cast member Lisby Larson (Paige Marshall) serenaded the couple with a rendition of "Oklahoma!".<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 29, 1980 |title=Real-Life Governor on 'Texas' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sanford-herald-real-life-governor-on/177916982/ |page=31 |work=The Sanford Herald |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
On April 28, 2010, Nigh and his wife were robbed at gunpoint in the driveway of their northwest Oklahoma City home. They were uninjured, though Nigh's wallet was taken. It was reported that no suspect was found.<ref>Saylor, Ryan. [http://midnightpolitics.com/2010/04/29/former-okgov-georgenigh-robbed-at-gunpoint/1392 "Former #OKGov #GeorgeNigh robbed at gunpoint"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714091244/http://midnightpolitics.com/2010/04/29/former-okgov-georgenigh-robbed-at-gunpoint/1392 |date=July 14, 2011 }} ''Midnight Politics'', April 29, 2010. Retrieved 04-29-10.</ref>
Nigh died on July 30, 2025, at the age of 98.<ref name="Oklahoma obit">{{cite news |last1=Evans |first1=Murray |title=Former Gov. George Nigh, Oklahoma's elder political statesman, dies at 98 |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/politics/state/2025/07/30/george-nigh-former-oklahoma-governor-longtime-politician-dies-at-98/85397809007/ |access-date=July 30, 2025 |work=The Oklahoman |date=July 30, 2025}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== {{commons category}} * {{IMDb name| 2961444}} * {{C-SPAN|51607}} * [http://voicesofoklahoma.com/interview/nigh-george/ Voices of Oklahoma interview with George Nigh.] First person interview conducted on May 1, 2009, with George Nigh.
{{s-start}} {{s-ppo}} {{s-bef|before=Cowboy Pink Williams}} {{s-ttl|title=Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma|years=1958}} {{s-aft|after=Leo Winters}} |- {{s-bef|before=Leo Winters}} {{s-ttl|title=Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma|years=1966, 1970, 1974}} {{s-aft|after=Spencer Bernard}} |- {{s-bef|before=David Boren}} {{s-ttl|title=Democratic nominee for Governor of Oklahoma|years=1978, 1982}} {{s-aft|after=David Walters}} |- {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=Cowboy Pink Williams}} {{s-ttl|title=Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma|years=1959–1963}} {{s-aft|after=Leo Winters}} |- {{s-bef|before=J. Howard Edmondson}} {{s-ttl|title=Governor of Oklahoma|years=1963}} {{s-aft|after=Henry Bellmon}} |- {{s-bef|before=Leo Winters}} {{s-ttl|title=Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma|years=1967–1979}} {{s-aft|after=Spencer Bernard}} |- {{s-bef|before=David Boren}} {{s-ttl|title=Governor of Oklahoma|years=1979–1987}} {{s-aft|after=Henry Bellmon}} |- {{s-hon}} {{s-bef|before=John M. Patterson}} {{s-ttl|title=Earliest Serving Governor Still Living|years=2021–2025}} {{s-aft|after=Kenneth M. Curtis}} {{s-end}}
{{Governors of Oklahoma}} {{OKLtGovernors}} {{University of Central Oklahoma presidents}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nigh, George}} Category:1927 births Category:2025 deaths Category:20th-century members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives Category:Democratic Party governors of Oklahoma Category:Democratic Party members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives Category:Democratic Party Oklahoma state senators Category:East Central University alumni Category:Eastern Oklahoma State College alumni Category:JCPenney people Category:Lieutenant governors of Oklahoma Category:Military personnel from Oklahoma Category:People from McAlester, Oklahoma Category:Politicians from Oklahoma City Category:Presbyterians from Oklahoma Category:Presidents of the University of Central Oklahoma Category:Schoolteachers from Oklahoma Category:United States Navy personnel of World War II