William Kent Brewster (November 8, 1941 – October 3, 2022) was an American pharmacist and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, Brewster was a U.S. Congressman from Oklahoma's 3rd congressional district from 1991 to 1997 and served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1983 to 1990.
Bill 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 |
| Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from the 49th district | |
| In office 1983–1990 | |
| Preceded by | W. D. Bradley |
| Succeeded by | Fred Stanley |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 8, 1941 Ardmore, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Died | October 3, 2022 (aged 80) Marietta, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Mary Sue "Suzie" Nelson Brewster |
| Children | 3 |
| 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
editBrewster was born in Ardmore, Oklahoma, on November 8, 1941, the son of Grady Omar and Rachel Mayo Brewster.[1] He attended public schools, graduating from Petrolia High School in Petrolia, Texas, and earned his Bachelor of Science in pharmacy from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 1968.[2] He was initiated into Tau Kappa Epsilon,[3] and was a member of the United States Army Reserves from 1966 to 1971.[4]
After college graduation, Brewster moved to Colleyville, Texas, where, as a licensed pharmacist, he owned and operated Colleyville Drug.[5] 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 1977, Brewster settled in Marietta, Oklahoma.[6]
Entry into politics
editIn 1982, Brewster was elected to a seat in the Oklahoma House of Representatives for District 49.[7] He was re-elected in 1984 and served until 1990.[8]
In the 1990 elections, Brewster ran for an open seat in 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 nomination against Lieutenant Governor Robert S. Kerr III.[9] He won the election to Congress in November 1990[10] in this heavily Democratic district (referred to as "Little Dixie"[11]). He was re-elected in 1992 and then again in 1994, serving from January 3, 1991, to January 3, 1997.[12]
Retirement from Congress
editIn December 1995, Brewster announced that he would not run for reelection to Congress in 1996.[13] He was mentioned as a possible Democratic candidate for governor in 1998, but declined to run for the nomination.[14]
After he left Congress, Brewster joined R. Duffy Wall and Associates, a Washington, D.C., lobbying firm.[15] In 2001, he served as president and chief operating officer of this firm. He was also chief executive officer and chairman of the Capitol Hill Consulting Group.[16]
Personal life
editBrewster 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.[17]
Brewster died on October 3, 2022, at the age of 80. He died at his home in Marietta following a battle with cancer.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b "William K. Brewster". Oklahoma Historical Society. Archived from the original on November 19, 2012. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- ^ "31 Oct 1994, 45 – The Daily Oklahoman at". The Oklahoman. Newspapers.com. October 31, 1994. Archived from the original on October 4, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ "The Teke Guide" (PDF). Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 5, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ a b "Former Oklahoma congressman Bill Brewster dies". The Oklahoman. October 3, 2022. Archived from the original on October 4, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ "5 Aug 1972, 11 – Fort Worth Star-Telegram at". Newspapers.com. August 5, 1972. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ Andrea DenHoed and Tres Savage (October 3, 2022). "'Always a doer': Former U.S. Rep. Bill Brewster dies at 80". Nondoc.com. Archived from the original on October 4, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ "7 Nov 1982, 11 – The Daily Oklahoman at". Newspapers.com. November 7, 1982. Archived from the original on October 4, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ "William K. Brewster". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Archived from the original on February 13, 2017. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- ^ "30 Aug 1990, 14 – The Daily Oklahoman at". Newspapers.com. August 30, 1990. Archived from the original on October 4, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ "10 Nov 1990, 8 – The Daily Oklahoman at". Newspapers.com. November 10, 1990. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ "25 Mar 1993, 11 – The Daily Oklahoman at". Newspapers.com. March 25, 1993. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ "William K. Brewster". Govtrack US Congress. Archived from the original on December 5, 2013. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- ^ "12 Dec 1995, 1 – The Daily Oklahoman at". Newspapers.com. December 12, 1995. Archived from the original on October 4, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ "26 Apr 1998, 596 – The Daily Oklahoman at". Newspapers.com. April 26, 1998. Archived from the original on October 4, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ "20 Nov 1996, 7 – The Times-Tribune at". Newspapers.com. November 20, 1996. Archived from the original on October 4, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ "William K. Brewster". Notable Names Data Base. Archived from the original on August 1, 2013. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- ^ "6 Feb 1990, 1 – Henryetta Daily Free-Lance at". Newspapers.com. February 6, 1990. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
External links
edit- Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture – Brewster, Bill Archived November 19, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- United States Congress. "Bill Brewster (id: B000817)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- William K. Brewster Collection at the Carl Albert Center