The Tulsa Tribune
August 19, 1983
Payne County voters shocked over verdict
By Micki Van Deventer
Tribune Correspondent
STILLWATER – Two years ago the conversation in local coffee shops focused on Dan Draper’s potential as a gubernatorial candidate.
Today, there is only shock and disbelief among his Payne County constituents over his vote fraud conviction by a Muskogee jury.
Draper, who has been in the Legislature since 1971, was unopposed in five elections until Dr. Lynn Gee, a retired Oklahoma State University microbiology professor, challenged him for his District 34 post in the 1982 election.
Gee is one of the few people who expressed no surprise, however, at the jury’s guilty verdict. “I am sure the jury has done what they saw fit to do in light of the circumstances,” Gee said.
Dr. Richard Poole, vice president for university relations, development and extension at Oklahoma State University, was “stunned and surprised” at the verdict, however.
Poole served as a character witness in Draper’s defense during the trial. People praised Draper’s involvement in higher education as a legislator and as speaker of the House. “I think he made significant contributions to the advancement of education,” Poole said.
Draper’s clout in the Legislature had long had a positive impact on improved funding for higher education particularly at OSU. During last year’s race Draper said, ”For years, Oklahoma was on the bottom of the scale as far as money provide for higher education. Now, we rank 25th in terms of per capita dollars; last year we ranked first in the nation in percentage increases for education.
His influence helped provide more than $20 million at OUS during the past four years.
Draper’s support of education also has aided vocational and technical education, which has state and area offices in Stillwater.
Dr. Fred Shultz, superintendent of the Indian Meridian Vocational Technical School, also was a character witness for Draper, “I was extremely surprised that the verdict came back that way,” he said. “I think it was a real shock to everyone.
“After spending two days at the trial, I came home believing there was no chance of his being convicted. I even heard some media people say they thought the wrong people were on trial. I think this whole town is shocked at what has happened.”
“Dan has been an extremely strong leader for all education, and if we lose him, it will be a real loss to all education. We need extremely strong leadership at this time in education and Draper provided that. He was brilliant especially in the area of budgets.”
Draper’s office in Stillwater was deluged with phone calls early this morning, said his secretary Sherry Meason.
‘People are just so shocked and surprised. They say they just don’t see how the jury could have come up with that kind of a decision. They can’t understand it… and I am just sick about it. I felt all along Draper would never get anything like this.”
Mrs. Lawrence Boger, wife of OSU’s president, expressed the same kind of feeling. “It’s just so sad,” she said. “I feel so sorry for him and his family.”
Back
