Spencer Bernard (politician)


Spencer Thomas Bernard was an American politician from the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Bernard served as the eleventh Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma from 1979 to 1987. He also served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

Early life and private career

Bernard was born February 5, 1918.
Bernard operated a peanut-processing plant and a farming and ranching operation in Rush Springs.

Political career

Bernard was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives as a Democrat in 1960. He served 18 years, six of which were as speaker pro tempore, the second-in-command leadership position in the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
Having prevailed with 25% as first in a wide field of primary candidates and easily winning the runoff with 63% against Gladis Warren, he was elected lieutenant governor in 1978 with considerable margin of 57.8% to 39.7% over his Republican opponent Terry Campbell. In his first term, he arranged for more than $14 million in agricultural exports to Taiwan. In his reelection campaign in 1982, he defeated Democratic primary opponents John Rogers, a former secretary of state from Oklahoma City, and Rodney Ray of Jenks, Oklahoma and won the general election against Norman Lamb, increasing his result to 61%.

Death

Bernard died on March 9, 2001, and was buried in the Rush Springs Cemetery in Rush Springs, Oklahoma.