Johnston Murray
Johnston Murray (July 21, 1902 – April 16, 1974) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 14th governor of Oklahoma from 1951 to 1955. He was the first Native American elected governor in the United States, an enrolled Chickasaw through his mother. His father, William H. Murray, had been Oklahoma’s 9th governor.
Born in Emet, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma), Murray grew up in a prominent political family. He studied at Murray State College and Oklahoma City University, earning a law degree in 1947. Before becoming governor, he held several political roles, including chairman of the Oklahoma Electoral College.
As governor, Murray aimed to reduce state spending and taxes. He pushed for school consolidation, changing property taxes to benefit local school districts, and expanding highways. His administration completed the Turner Turnpike in 1953 and helped the state purchase fairgrounds in Oklahoma City. He vetoed 40 bills during his term, the most in four decades. He also served as chairman of the Southern Governors Conference and the Interstate Oil Compact Commission, and in 1954 he toured Central and South America for the U.S. Information Service.
Murray’s personal life drew public attention. He married three times: Marion Draughon (1923–1929), Willie Roberta Emerson (1933–1956), and Helen Shutt (1956– ). In 1956 he left the Democratic Party and became a Republican, a move Willie described as not surprising. He later worked in Fort Worth, Texas, before returning to Oklahoma City to practice law.
After leaving office, Murray continued to work as a lawyer and consultant. He ran for Oklahoma State Treasurer in 1962 but did not win. He died in 1974 in Oklahoma City after surgery, at age 71, and is buried in Tishomingo, Oklahoma.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 06:08 (CET).