William Durant | |
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Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives | |
In office 1911–1913 | |
Preceded by | Ben Wilson |
Succeeded by | J. Harvey Maxey |
Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives | |
In office 1907–1917 | |
Chief of the Choctaw Nation | |
In office 1937–1948 | |
Preceded by | Ben Dwight |
Succeeded by | Harry J. W. Belvin |
Personal details | |
Born | Bennington, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory | March 18, 1866
Died | August 1, 1948 Tuskahoma, Oklahoma, U.S. | (aged 82)
Nationality | American Choctaw Nation |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Ida May Corber |
Occupation | lawyer, politician |
William A. Durant (March 18, 1866 – August 1, 1948) was a Choctaw politician in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. A lawyer, he sat in the tribal legislature and later became Speaker of the Choctaw Nation before its annexation in 1906. He played a role in Oklahoma statehood and served in the Oklahoma House, rising to become its third Speaker. He was the sponsor of a bill that created Southeastern Oklahoma State University. He served later in life as chief of the Choctaw Nation during World War II.