Dorothy Conaghan Chiles (born September 24, 1930) was a U.S. politician from the state of Oklahoma. Her first husband, Brian Conaghan, died due to complications from leukemia while serving in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. In 1973, Chiles was elected to fill his vacant seat, and she served for thirteen years until 1986. She represented the 38th district, which includes Grant and Kay counties.
Chiles was born in Oklahoma City on September 24, 1930, and spent he first twenty years of her life there. She graduated from Classen High School.
After graduating from high school, Chiles went to the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma. On her first day of college, Chiles met her first husband, Brian Conaghan. After two years, Chiles decided to leave college and marry Brian. The two moved to Tonkawa, OK. They joined the Young Republicans and Chiles became the secretary of the organization.
Chiles became Brian's campaign manager when he ran for office in 1962. He developed leukemia in 1969 and three and a half years later he died in 1973.[1] When asked if she would run for his vacant seat, Chiles accepted and was soon elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives.[2]
House of Representativesedit
Elected in 1973, Chiles served until retirement in 1986.[3] Chiles was involved with several bills that restricted the sale of harmful substances to minors, such as the raise in drinking age from 18 to 21 and the age limit on the sale of gold paint. Chiles voted "no" against the passage of the historic ERA amendment. Chiles was the first woman to fulfill the role of assistant minority floor leader.[4]
Committeesedit
Agriculture
Higher Education
Common Education
Oil and Gas
Mental Health and Retardation
Appropriations and Budget
Public Safety and Penal Affairs
Veterans and Military Affairs.
Retirementedit
Since retiring, Chiles got remarried to Robert Chiles on August 15, 1986. She has taken up several different activities including golf and bridge. Chiles has served in other capacities since leaving the office. She was appointed by Governor Henry Bellmon to be a commissioner on the Health Planning Commission. The legislature eventually dissolved this commission and Chiles went on to become the third vice-chairman of the Oklahoma Region of Christian Churches and, because of being on the board, was elected President of the Oklahoma Christian Foundation. Chiles and her husband reside in Sarasota, FL. She has three sons, two step-daughters and eleven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.[2]
Service rolesedit
Other roles in which Chiles has served in her lifetime include:
President of the Quail Creek Ladies 9-Hole Golf Association
Appointed vice president by Shirley Bellmon of Oklahoma Alliance for Artisans
Referencesedit
^"Seat Going to Widow?". No. April 10, 1973. The Oklahoman. Online digital archives. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
^ abFinchum, Tanya (July 2, 2007). "Oral history interview with Dorothy Conaghan Chiles". Women of the Oklahoma Legislature. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
^. okhouse.gov. Oklahoma State Legislature. Archived from the original on 11 July 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
^"House Adds 3rd Woman To Its Ranks". No. June 5, 1973. The Oklahoman. Online digital archives. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
External linksedit
Women of the Oklahoma Legislature Oral History Project -- OSU Library
April 13, 2024
dorothy, conaghan, chiles, born, september, 1930, politician, from, state, oklahoma, first, husband, brian, conaghan, died, complications, from, leukemia, while, serving, oklahoma, house, representatives, 1973, chiles, elected, fill, vacant, seat, served, thir. Dorothy Conaghan Chiles born September 24 1930 was a U S politician from the state of Oklahoma Her first husband Brian Conaghan died due to complications from leukemia while serving in the Oklahoma House of Representatives In 1973 Chiles was elected to fill his vacant seat and she served for thirteen years until 1986 She represented the 38th district which includes Grant and Kay counties Dorothy Conaghan ChilesMember of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from the 38th districtIn office 1973 1986Preceded byBrian F ConaghanSucceeded byJim ReesePersonal detailsBornDorothy Dell 1930 09 24 September 24 1930Oklahoma City U S Political partyRepublicanSpouse s Brian F Conaghan deceased Robert Chiles deceased Contents 1 Early life 2 House of Representatives 2 1 Committees 3 Retirement 3 1 Service roles 4 References 5 External linksEarly life editChiles was born in Oklahoma City on September 24 1930 and spent he first twenty years of her life there She graduated from Classen High School After graduating from high school Chiles went to the University of Oklahoma in Norman Oklahoma On her first day of college Chiles met her first husband Brian Conaghan After two years Chiles decided to leave college and marry Brian The two moved to Tonkawa OK They joined the Young Republicans and Chiles became the secretary of the organization Chiles became Brian s campaign manager when he ran for office in 1962 He developed leukemia in 1969 and three and a half years later he died in 1973 1 When asked if she would run for his vacant seat Chiles accepted and was soon elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives 2 House of Representatives editElected in 1973 Chiles served until retirement in 1986 3 Chiles was involved with several bills that restricted the sale of harmful substances to minors such as the raise in drinking age from 18 to 21 and the age limit on the sale of gold paint Chiles voted no against the passage of the historic ERA amendment Chiles was the first woman to fulfill the role of assistant minority floor leader 4 Committees edit Agriculture Higher Education Common Education Oil and Gas Mental Health and Retardation Appropriations and Budget Public Safety and Penal Affairs Veterans and Military Affairs Retirement editSince retiring Chiles got remarried to Robert Chiles on August 15 1986 She has taken up several different activities including golf and bridge Chiles has served in other capacities since leaving the office She was appointed by Governor Henry Bellmon to be a commissioner on the Health Planning Commission The legislature eventually dissolved this commission and Chiles went on to become the third vice chairman of the Oklahoma Region of Christian Churches and because of being on the board was elected President of the Oklahoma Christian Foundation Chiles and her husband reside in Sarasota FL She has three sons two step daughters and eleven grandchildren and five great grandchildren 2 Service roles edit Other roles in which Chiles has served in her lifetime include Organization of Women Legislators Tonkawa Chamber of Commerce Delphi Study Club American Legion Auxiliary President of the Twentieth Century Club President of Alpha II PTA President of Washington Elementary School in 1966 Vice Chairman of the Kay County Republicans Vice Chairman of the 6th Congressional District Republican Party Oklahoma State Chairman of American Legislative Exchange Council President of the Oklahoma Christian Foundation President of the Quail Creek Ladies 9 Hole Golf Association Appointed vice president by Shirley Bellmon of Oklahoma Alliance for ArtisansReferences edit Seat Going to Widow No April 10 1973 The Oklahoman Online digital archives Retrieved 20 April 2015 a b Finchum Tanya July 2 2007 Oral history interview with Dorothy Conaghan Chiles Women of the Oklahoma Legislature Retrieved 20 April 2015 Historic Members okhouse gov Oklahoma State Legislature Archived from the original on 11 July 2013 Retrieved 20 April 2015 House Adds 3rd Woman To Its Ranks No June 5 1973 The Oklahoman Online digital archives Retrieved 20 April 2015 External links editWomen of the Oklahoma Legislature Oral History Project OSU Library Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dorothy Conaghan Chiles amp oldid 1213169509, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
