Ernest Whitworth Marland was a Democrat who served as Oklahoma’s governor from 1935-1939. He was born in Pittsburgh, PA, May 8, 1874. He was educated at Pittsburgh’s Park Institute and earned an LL.B. from the University of Michigan in 1893. He began a law practice in Pittsburgh but entered into the oil production business after moving to Oklahoma. He was president of the Marland Oil Company until it was consolidated. He was a member of the Seventy-third United State Congress from 1933-35; and Governor of Oklahoma from 1/15/35 to 1/9/39. Before Marland left office, nearly 90,000 Oklahomans were working on 1,300 WPA projects throughout the state. Governor Marland also provided leadership in the development of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) and the Interstate Oil Compact. His civic contributions include the Pioneer Woman Statue in Ponca City. Marland died 10/3/41 and is buried in Ponca City. (From page 727 of the 2001-2002 Oklahoma Almanac published by the Oklahoma Dept. of Libraries.)
During his time as governor:
“Amid the worst of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, Marland took the lead in raising taxes on income, estates, cigarettes and oil production.
He also succeeded in doubling the state sales tax to match federal welfare programs. Voters approved a partial exemption of homesteads from property tax in 1935.
By stepping up the state’s road-building program, thousands of jobs were created.” (Taken from an article in the 11/15/87 Daily Oklahoman.)
File: Governors/State/Oklahoma
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