Merle Lansden
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Merle Landsen | |
|---|---|
| 24th Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives | |
| In office 1944–1944 | |
| Preceded by | Harold Freeman |
| Succeeded by | Johnson Davis Hill |
| Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from the Beaver County district | |
| In office 1962–1964 | |
| Preceded by | G. H. Karnes |
| Succeeded by | William P. Willis |
| In office 1940–1946 | |
| Preceded by | Floyd Harrington |
| Succeeded by | W. T. Quinn |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 8, 1907 |
| Died | October 30, 1989 (aged 82) |
| Party | Democratic |
| Occupation | judge, lawyer, politician |
Joseph Merle Lansden (July 8, 1907 – October 30, 1989) was an American attorney, judge and politician from the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Lansden was the first district judge under a new system of appointment. He was also a Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
Lansden was born in Beaver County, Oklahoma, on July 8, 1907.[1] He earned his law degree from the University of Oklahoma Law School and was admitted to the bar in 1939.[1]
Military service
Lansden served in the United States Marine Corps from 1942 to 1946 and was discharged with the rank of major.[1]
Oklahoma House of Representatives
Lansden served three terms as a member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from Beaver County between 1941 and 1947.[2] He served as speaker during a special session of the state legislature in 1944, when Speaker Harold Freeman was undergoing military service.[3] The special session was called by the Governor Robert S. Kerr to ensure military men and women could participate in the 1944 elections.[3] Lansden's appointment was contentious and a minor revolt ended when he fainted due to exhaustion from travel and earned the sympathy of his fellow legislators.[3]
Law firm
Lansden joined the firm of Lansden, Drum, and Goetzinger after finishing his military service until his appointment as a district judge.[1]
