Sam Helton

Sam Lee Helton was born on August 31, 1954, in Lawton, Oklahoma, to Joe and Vallene Helton. He graduated from Lawton High School in 1972. He attended Cameron University before earning an associate's degree from Western Oklahoma State College and a bachelor's degree Mid-American Christian University in Oklahoma City. In 1982, he joined the Lawton Police Department.^[1] Helton was elected to the Oklahoma Senate as a member of the Democratic Party representing the 31st district from 1990 to 2004. He was preceded in office by Paul Taliaferro and succeeded in office by Don Barrington.^[2] He died on October 30, 2016, in Walters, Oklahoma.^[1]