Dr. Charles Spencer
Thousands of dedicated Oklahoman's have helped to build the 589 great hometowns in our state over the past century. The Hall of Fame Foundation Board early realized that one of their most difficult tasks would be to determine whether to induct some of these municipal officials posthumously. For this first induction, Dr. Charles F. Spencer is deemed to be a person deserving such recognition, even though he passed away in 1989. Dr. Spencer is perhaps best recognized for his over 23 years as President of East Central State University in Ada. He graduated from East Central in 1928 and then received his Master's degree the next year from OU.
His interest in "doing public good" eventually lead to his Ph.D. in Government from the University of Wisconsin. Shortly after becoming the East Central President, he was elected Chairman of the Board of Freeholders to draft a city charter for his beloved Ada. In 1946 he was elected as the first mayor under the new charter. The following year he became President of the Oklahoma Municipal League, and in 1948 was elected to a second term as Mayor of Ada.
Building upon these experiences, he became a nationally recognized authority and consultant on home rule government. He wrote city charters for many communities throughout the country. In 1949 and 1957 he drafted the legislation to create the statutory council-manager and strong-mayor forms of government in Oklahoma. His expertise took him to many states, including Alaska. Oklahoma Governors tapped his extraordinary expertise in government and leadership for service as a member of the 1948 Oklahoma Constitution Revision Committee, the 1951 Governor's Joint Committee on Government Reorganization, and in 1953 as a founding member and first chairman of the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority.
He served 14 years as OETA chairman and then a final six years as a member of the Board. During this time the public television network grew to link all areas of the state into its broadcast range. Dr. Spencer retired in 1973. He was 85 when he passed away.