Patience Latting
| Patience Latting | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of Oklahoma City | |
|
In office April 13, 1971 – April 12, 1983 |
|
| Preceded by | James Norick |
| Succeeded by | Andy Coats |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 27, 1918 Texhoma, Oklahoma |
| Died | December 29, 2012 (aged 94) Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Trimble Latting |
| Alma mater |
University of Oklahoma Columbia University |
Patience Sewell Latting (August 27, 1918 – December 29, 2012) was an American politician who served as Mayor of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, from 1971 to 1983. Latting was the first female Mayor of Oklahoma City.
Latting was born in Texhoma, Oklahoma, on August 27, 1918. She graduated from Classen High School in Oklahoma City. She received a bachelor's degree with honors in mathematics from the University of Oklahoma in 1938. In 1939, Latting obtained a master's degree in economics and statistics from Columbia University in New York City.
Latting became a member of both the Parent Teacher Association and the League of Women Voters. It was her membership in the League of Women Voters that led to her entry into the political realm in the early 1960s. Latting realized that the way state legislative district borders were drawn in Oklahoma was antiquated. Rural areas of the state still enjoyed more representation in the Oklahoma Legislature while more populated, urban areas were under-represented. The districts had not been reformed since Oklahoma achieved statehood in 1907. In 1964, Latting testified before a United States federal court which was investigating the legality of the state elections held that same year. Latting, who had a background in statistics, became involved in the reapportionment and redistricting of the new state House and Senate districts, which were more proportionally distributed between urban and rural areas.
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