George Nigh
| George Patterson Nigh | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 17th & 22nd Governor of Oklahoma | |
|
In office January 3, 1979 – January 12, 1987 |
|
| Lieutenant | Spencer Bernard |
| Preceded by | David L. Boren |
| Succeeded by | Henry Bellmon |
|
In office January 6 – 14, 1963 |
|
| Lieutenant | Vacant |
| Preceded by | J. Howard Edmondson |
| Succeeded by | Henry Bellmon |
| 8th & 10th Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma | |
|
In office January 9, 1967 – January 3, 1979 |
|
| Governor |
Dewey F. Bartlett David Hall David L. Boren |
| Preceded by | Leo Winters |
| Succeeded by | Spencer Bernard |
|
In office January 12, 1959 – January 6, 1963 |
|
| Governor | J. Howard Edmondson |
| Preceded by | Cowboy Pink Williams |
| Succeeded by | Leo Winters |
| 18th President of the University of Central Oklahoma | |
|
In office July 1, 1992 – June 30, 1997 |
|
| Preceded by | Bill Lillard |
| Succeeded by | W. Roger Webb |
| Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives | |
|
In office 1951-1959 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
June 9, 1927 McAlester, Oklahoma |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Donna Nigh |
| Residence | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
| Alma mater | East Central State College |
| Profession | Politician |
| Religion | Presbyterianism |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Navy
|
| Years of service | 1945–1946 |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
George Patterson Nigh (born June 9, 1927), is an American politician and civic leader from the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Nigh served as the 17th and the 22nd 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.
Nigh served on the board of directors of JC Penney and as President of the University of Central Oklahoma after leaving the office of governor. Currently, he is a director and public relations advisor for International Bank of Commerce. Prior to holding statewide offices, he worked as a teacher and legislator.
Nigh was born in McAlester, Oklahoma, and was the son of Wilbur R. and Irene Crockett Nigh. He served in the United States Navy from 1945 to 1946 and graduated from East Central State College in Ada, Oklahoma in 1951.
From 1951 to 1959, he alternated between service in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, and as a teacher in McAlester public schools. During his tenure in the state legislature, he introduced legislation designating "Oklahoma!" as the state song.
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%). Williams himself had finished second behind incumbent Lieutenant Governor James E. Berry in the 1954 Democratic primary, before besting him in the runoff. In the general election, Nigh beat Republican George B. Sherritt in a landslide by 384,431 votes (76.86%) to 100,068 (20.01%). Nigh served from January 12, 1959 to January 3, 1963. Taking office at age 31, he became the youngest lieutenant governor in the United States.
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