Helen Cole

Helen TeAta Gale Cole (July 13, 1922 – April 7, 2004) was an American politician who served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1979 to 1984, when she was first elected to the Oklahoma Senate. Cole returned to the state senate in 1991 and was succeeded by Kathleen Wilcoxson in 1997.

Helen Cole
Member of the Oklahoma Senate
from the 45th district
In office
July 1991 – November 1996
Preceded byTom Cole
Succeeded byKathleen Wilcoxson
In office
November 1984 – November 1988
Succeeded byTom Cole
Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
from the 54th district
In office
1979–1984
Personal details
Born
Helen TeAta Gale

July 13, 1922
Tishomingo, Oklahoma, U.S.
DiedApril 7, 2004 (aged 81)
Moore, Oklahoma, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Chickasaw Nation
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
John Dwayne Cole Sr
​
(m. 1946)​
RelationsTe Ata Fisher (Aunt)[1]
ChildrenJohn Cole Jr. and Tom Cole

Her son, Tom Cole, is the longest-serving Native American in the history of the United States Congress.[2]

Early life and education

Helen TeAta Gale was born in Tishomingo, Oklahoma, on July 13, 1922, to William Oakley Gale and Avis Minnette Fifield (Thompson).[3] She was raised in a single-parent household and graduated from Ardmore High School in 1939.[3][4]

Career

Cole was active in several local civic and political organizations, and contributed to the successful gubernatorial campaigns of Henry Bellmon and Dewey Bartlett.[3] Cole was named a delegate to the 1968 Republican National Convention, and Bartlett appointed her to the Oklahoma Personnel Board.[3] Cole then ran for a seat on the Oklahoma House of Representatives. From 1979 to 1984, she represented district 54.

Cole contested the 45th district Oklahoma Senate seat in 1984, and won one term. Cole retired, only to return to her political career as mayor of Moore, Oklahoma, in 1990. The next year, she succeeded her son Tom Cole as state senator from the 45th district. Cole was named a National Convention delegate for a second time for the 1992 Republican National Convention.[5][6] Cole stepped down from the state senate in 1997, and was succeeded by Kathleen Wilcoxson. Cole was then appointed a National Convention delegate for a third time for the 2000 Republican National Convention.[5][6] In retirement, she became a benefactor of the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.[7]

Personal life

Cole was of Chickasaw and Choctaw descent. She was a member of the Chickasaw Nation.[6]

References
  1. Lehmann, Gene. "Feature film to spotlight Chickasaw actress Te Ata". Chickasaw Times. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  2. "Cole becomes longest-serving Native American in history". The Oklahoman. April 23, 2022.
  3. "A Concurrent Resolution praising the life and public service of Helen Cole; mourning her loss and offering condolences to her family; and directing distribution" (PDF). 2004. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  4. Arrington, Shannon Lynn (August 10, 2017). "Helen Cole, Against all Odds". The Duncan Banner. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  5. "Helen TeAta Gale Cole". The Oklahoman. April 9, 2004. Archived from the original on April 9, 2004. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  6. "Helen TeAta Gale Cole". Chickasaw.tv. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  7. "Cole, Sen Helen TeAta (Gale)". University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. April 7, 2004. Archived from the original on July 23, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
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