William K. Brewster

William K. "Bill" Brewster (born November 8, 1941) is a Democratic politician and a retired U.S. Congressman from Oklahoma.

Bill K. Brewster
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 3rd district
In office January 3, 1991 – January 3, 1997
Preceded by	Wes Watkins
Succeeded by	Wes Watkins
Oklahoma House of Representatives
In office 1983 – 1990
Personal details
Born	November 8, 1941 Ardmore, Oklahoma, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Mary Sue "Suzie" Nelson Brewster
Children	Balynda Karel Brewster Betsy Kecia Brewster Bradley Kent Brewster
Alma mater	Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Profession	pharmacist, rancher, politician
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1966–1971
Unit	United States Army Reserve

Early life

Brewster was born in Ardmore, Oklahoma on November 8, 1941, the son of Grady Omar and Rachel Mayo Brewster. He attended public schools and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, Oklahoma in 1968. He was initiated into Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity, and was a member of the United States Army Reserves from 1966 to 1971. He married Mary Sue "Suzie" Nelson in 1963, and the couple had three children, Balynda Karel, Betsy Kecia, and Bradley Kent. On January 31, 1990, Betsy Kecia and Bradley Kent died in a plane crash with friends of the family.

After college graduation, Brewster moved to Colleyville, Texas, where, as a licensed pharmacist, he owned and operated the Colleyville Drug until 1977. In 1968 he also began a career as a cattleman and rancher when he started Brewster Angus Farms; as well as owning a real estate business.[1]

In the late 1970s he settled in Marietta, Oklahoma.

Entry into politics

In 1983, Brewster was elected to a seat in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. He was re-elected in 1984, and served until 1990,[2] when he chose, instead, to run for an open seat to the U.S. House of Representatives (District 3 — then Congressman Wes Watkins had decided to retire from Congress and run for Governor of Oklahoma). Brewster won the heavily contested Democratic party nomination against Lieutenant Governor Robert S. Kerr III and then was easily elected to Congress in November 1990, in this heavily Democratic district (referred to as "Little Dixie," the seat had once been held for 30 years by former Democratic U.S. House Speaker Carl Albert). He was re-elected in 1992, and then again in 1994, serving from January 3, 1991 to January 3, 1997.[3]

Retirement from Congress

Brewster decided to retire from Congress in 1996, after Former Congressman Wes Watkins began lining up support. He was mentioned as a possible Democratic candidate for governor in 1998, but declined to run for the nomination.

After he left Congress, Brewster joined R. Duffy Wall and Associates, a Washington, D.C., lobbying firm, and in 2001 he served as president and chief operating officer of this firm. He also was CEO and Chairman of Capitol Hill Consulting Group.[4]

See also

• Politics of Oklahoma
• Oklahoma Democratic Party
• Oklahoma Congressional Districts
• Little Dixie
• Wes Watkins

References

1. "William K. Brewster". Oklahoma Historical Society. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
2. "William K. Brewster". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
3. "William K. Brewster". Govtrack US Congress. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
4. "William K. Brewster". Notable Names Data Base. Retrieved 12 June 2013.

External links

• Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Brewster, Bill
• United States Congress. "William K. Brewster (id: B000817)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Appearances on C-SPAN
• William K. Brewster Collection at the Carl Albert Center