1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
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2 2nd Session of the 59th Legislature (2024)
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3 SENATE
3 RESOLUTION 33 By: Green
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6 AS INTRODUCED
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7 A Resolution honoring the life of former Senator
7 Donald Forrest Ferrell; recognizing his public
8 service in elected office and as a member of the
8 United States Air Force and Air National Guard;
9 remembering his time as Oklahoma’s Adjutant General;
9 appreciating his lengthy career as a newspaper
10 reporter, editor, and publisher; and directing
10 distribution.
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13 WHEREAS, Donald Forrest Ferrell was born in Oklahoma City on
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14 January 6, 1929, and served in the Oklahoma State Senate from 1966
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15 to 1974, which included a two-year stint as Minority Leader; and
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16 WHEREAS, Major General Ferrell enlisted in the United States Air
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17 Force in 1946 and served in the Oklahoma Air National Guard and the
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18 United States Air Force Reserve for more than forty years; and
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19 WHEREAS, Ferrell was Oklahoma’s fourteenth Adjutant General and
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20 the first Air National Guard officer to serve in that role; and
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21 WHEREAS, he served in Governor Henry Bellmon’s cabinet as
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22 Secretary of Safety and Security from 1987 to 1991; and
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23 WHEREAS, he graduated from Oklahoma State University with a
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24 bachelor’s degree in journalism; and
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Req. No. 3671 Page 1
 1 WHEREAS, starting in 1953, Ferrell worked as a reporter, editor,
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2 and publisher for Oklahoma newspapers; and
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3 WHEREAS, he co-owned the Lincoln County News in Chandler,
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4 Oklahoma, with his wife, Sally, for more than two decades after
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5 purchasing the newspaper in 1962; and
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6 WHEREAS, Ferrell was inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall
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7 of Fame in 1985.
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8 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE 2ND SESSION
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9 OF THE 59TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:
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10 THAT the Oklahoma State Senate honors the life and extraordinary
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11 public service of former Oklahoma State Senator Donald Ferrell.
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12 THAT the Oklahoma State Senate recognizes the historic career
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13 and achievements of former Senator Ferrell.
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14 THAT the Oklahoma State Senate extends its sincere appreciation
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15 for his outstanding service to our state and country.
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16 THAT a copy of this resolution be distributed to former Senator
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17 Ferrell’s family.
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19 59-2-3671 CF 3/25/2024 1:52:10 PM
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Req. No. 3671 Page 2