George Nigh | |
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17th and 22nd Governor of Oklahoma | |
In office January 3, 1979 – January 12, 1987 | |
Lieutenant | Spencer Bernard |
Preceded by | David Boren |
Succeeded by | Henry Bellmon |
In office January 6, 1963 – January 14, 1963 | |
Lieutenant | Vacant |
Preceded by | J. Howard Edmondson |
Succeeded by | Henry Bellmon |
8th and 10th Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma | |
In office January 9, 1967 – January 3, 1979 | |
Governor | Dewey F. Bartlett David Hall David 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 | |
Personal details | |
Born | [1] McAlester, Oklahoma, U.S. | June 9, 1927
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Donna Nigh |
Residence | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
Alma mater | East Central State College |
Profession | Politician |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | 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 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 on the board of directors of JCPenney, as president of the University of Central Oklahoma and as director and public relations advisor for International Bank of Commerce. Prior to his election to statewide office, he worked as a teacher and legislator. Since the death of John M. Patterson of Alabama in June 2021, Nigh has been the earliest-serving living former American governor, having first served as governor of Oklahoma in 1963.