Clem McSpadden

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Clem McSpadden

| image name = Clem McSpadden.jpg

| state = Oklahoma

| district = 2nd

| term_start = January 3, 1973

| term_end = January 3, 1975

| preceded = Ed Edmondson

| succeeded = Theodore M. Risenhoover

| office1 = 31st President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate

| term_start1 = 1965

| term_end1 = 1969

| preceded1 = Roy C. Boecher

| succeeded1 = Finis Smith

| office2 = Member of the Oklahoma Senate from the 2nd district

| term2 = 1963–1972

| successor2 = Robert Wadley

| predecessor2 = Arthur G. McComas

| office3 = Member of the Oklahoma Senate from the 33rd district

| term3 = 1954–1963

| successor3 = Ed Bradley

| predecessor3 = John W. Russell Jr.

| party = Democratic

| birth_date = {{birth date|1925|11|09}}

| birth_place = Bushyhead, Oklahoma, U.S.

|nationality = American
Cherokee Nation

| death_date = {{death date and age|2008|07|07|1925|11|09}}

| death_place = Houston, Texas, U.S.

| spouse =

| children =

| occupation =

| residence =

| alma_mater = Oklahoma A&M

| allegiance = {{nowrap|{{flag|United States|name=United States of America|1912|size=23px}}}}

| branch = {{flag|United States Navy|1864|size=23px}}

| serviceyears = 1944–1946

| battles = World War II

}}

Clem Rogers McSpadden (November 9, 1925 – July 7, 2008) was an American rodeo announcer and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a U.S. Representative from Oklahoma's 2nd Congressional District for one full term from 1973 to 1975. Prior to his election to the U.S. House, McSpadden was a member of the Oklahoma Senate between 1954 and 1972. He was the grandnephew of Oklahoma comedian and actor Will Rogers.

Early life

McSpadden was born on a ranch near the small town of Bushyhead in Rogers County, Oklahoma.{{cite web |title=McSpadden, Clem Rogers {{!}} The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture |url=http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=MC040 |website=okhistory.org |publisher=Oklahoma Historical Society |access-date=March 2, 2018}} He grew up on a ranch owned by Will Rogers in nearby Oologah, where he attended public schools. He served in the United States Navy during World War II (1944–1946). He attended the University of Redlands, North Texas Agricultural College, and the University of Texas before he received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1948 from Oklahoma State University–Stillwater, then known as Oklahoma A&M.

Career

He was first elected to public office in November 1954 when he won a seat in the Oklahoma Senate. He served in that body until 1972, including leading it for two sessions as President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate.

He was elected to the Ninety-third Congress in November 1972, and served one term (January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1975), serving on the House Rules Committee. He chose to run for Governor of Oklahoma in 1974 rather than seek reelection for a second congressional term. His gubernatorial candidacy was unsuccessful, as David L. Boren, later a United States senator and the president of the University of Oklahoma, received the Democratic nomination instead.

McSpadden was involved in rodeos throughout North America as a broadcaster, including the National Finals Rodeo, the Calgary Stampede, and the Canadian Finals Rodeo. In 1974, he hired a then-unknown Reba McEntire to sing the National Anthem at the National Finals Rodeo. He was quoted by the Tulsa World as observing "an amazing correlation" between politics and the rodeo profession, "in that there's bull in each profession."{{cite web |title=Rep. Clem McSpadden born in Oklahoma, November 9, 1925 |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/29298.html |work=Politico |date=November 9, 2009 |access-date=March 3, 2018}} He is also known, especially through the rodeo community, for his authorship of "A Cowboy's Prayer."

Death and legacy

After being diagnosed with cancer, McSpadden died at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston on July 7, 2008.

A portion of Oklahoma State Highway 66 between Claremore and Bushyhead was designated Clem McSpadden Highway in 1985. The post office in Chelsea, Oklahoma, where he made his home, was renamed the "Clem Rogers McSpadden Post Office Building" in his honor in January 2008.{{cite web |title=Clem Rogers McSpadden |url=http://www.pryordailytimes.com/obituaries/local_story_192100007.html |work=Pryor Daily Times |publisher=The Times |access-date=March 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120908003101/http://pryordailytimes.com/obituaries/x519316251/Clem-Rogers-McSpadden |archive-date=September 8, 2012 |date=July 10, 2008 |url-status=dead}}

Honors

Rodeo Hall of Fame of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum 1989{{Cite news |url=https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/rodeo-hall-of-fame/5175/ |title=Rodeo Hall of Fame Inductees |work=National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum |access-date=17 May 2017}}
ProRodeo Hall of Fame 1990{{cite web |title=Clem McSpadden - Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame |url=https://www.prorodeohalloffame.com/inductees/notableslifetime-achievement/clem-mcspadden/ |website=Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame |access-date=February 3, 2017}}
Oklahoma Hall of Fame 1990{{cite web |title=McSpadden, Clem Rogers {{!}} 1990 |url=https://oklahomahof.com/member-archives/m/mcspadden-clem-rogers-1990 |website=oklahomahof.com |publisher=Oklahoma Hall of Fame |access-date=March 2, 2018}}
Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame 2009{{cite web |title=Clem McSpadden |url=https://oklahomasportshalloffame.wordpress.com/class-of-2009/ |work=Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame |access-date=February 3, 2017}}
Rodeo Hall of Fame of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum 1989{{Cite news |url=https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/rodeo-hall-of-fame/5175/ |title=Rodeo Hall of Fame Inductees |work=National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum |access-date=17 May 2017}}
ProRodeo Hall of Fame 1990{{cite web |title=Clem McSpadden - Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame |url=https://www.prorodeohalloffame.com/inductees/notableslifetime-achievement/clem-mcspadden/ |website=Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame |access-date=February 3, 2017}}
Oklahoma Hall of Fame 1990{{cite web |title=McSpadden, Clem Rogers {{!}} 1990 |url=https://oklahomahof.com/member-archives/m/mcspadden-clem-rogers-1990 |website=oklahomahof.com |publisher=Oklahoma Hall of Fame |access-date=March 2, 2018}}
Ben Johnson Memorial Award of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum 1998{{cite web|title=Clem McSpadden|url=https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/collections/awards/ben-johnson/honorees/mcspadden-clem/|website=National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum|access-date=November 28, 2024}}
Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame 2009{{cite web |title=Clem McSpadden |url=https://oklahomasportshalloffame.wordpress.com/class-of-2009/ |work=Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame |access-date=February 3, 2017}}
Legends of ProRodeo Hall of Fame 2008{{cite web |title=Legends of ProRodeo - Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame |url=http://www.prorodeohalloffame.com/inductees/legends-of-prorodeo/ |work=Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame |access-date=February 3, 2017}}
Legend in the Bull Riding Hall of Fame 2017{{cite web|title=Bull Riding Hall of Fame inductees|url=https://thebullridinghof.com/pages/inductee-list|website=Bull Riding Hall of Fame|access-date=August 19, 2023}}
Legends of ProRodeo Hall of Fame 2008{{cite web |title=Legends of ProRodeo - Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame |url=http://www.prorodeohalloffame.com/inductees/legends-of-prorodeo/ |work=Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame |access-date=February 3, 2017}}
Legend in the Bull Riding Hall of Fame 2017{{cite web|title=Bull Riding Hall of Fame inductees|url=https://thebullridinghof.com/pages/inductee-list|website=Bull Riding Hall of Fame|access-date=August 19, 2023}}