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
In office
1991–1997
Succeeded byKathleen Wilcoxson
Member of the Oklahoma Senate
from the 45th district
In office
1984–1986
Preceded 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.
RelationsTe Ata Fisher (aunt)
Children2, including Tom Cole

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).[1] She was raised in a single-parent household and graduated from Ardmore High School in 1939.[1][2]

Career

Cole was active in several local civic and political organizations, and contributed to the successful gubernatorial campaigns of Henry Bellmon and Dewey Bartlett.[1] Cole was named a delegate to the 1968 Republican National Convention, and Bartlett appointed her to the Oklahoma Personnel Board.[1] 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. In 1992, Cole was named a delegate to the Republican National Convention for a second time.[3][4] Cole stepped down from the state senate in 1997, and was succeeded by Kathleen Wilcoxson. Cole was appointed a delegate to the Republican National Convention for a third time in 2000.[3][4] In retirement, she became a benefactor of the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.[5]

Personal life

Gale's aunt was Te Ata Fisher.[6] In 1946, Gale married John Dwayne Cole Sr. The couple had two children, John Jr. and Tom.[1][3]

Cole died in Moore, Oklahoma on April 7, 2004, aged 81.[3][5]

References
  1. "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.
  2. Arrington, Shannon Lynn (August 10, 2017). "Helen Cole, Against all Odds". The Duncan Banner. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  3. "Helen TeAta Gale Cole". The Oklahoman. April 9, 2004. Archived from the original on April 9, 2004. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  4. "Helen TeAta Gale Cole". Chickasaw.tv. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  5. "Cole, Sen Helen TeAta (Gale)". University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. April 7, 2004. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  6. Lehmann, Gene. "Feature film to spotlight Chickasaw actress Te Ata". Retrieved July 23, 2018.
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