Robert Burns (Oklahoma politician)

Robert Burns (1874–1950) was an American attorney and politician from the U.S. state of Oklahoma. He served as Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma.

Early life

Born on a tenant farm in Arkansas in 1874, Burns earned a law degree from the Nashville Law School in Nashville, Tennessee, before moving to Washita County in Oklahoma Territory in December 1902.^[1] He moved to Chickasha in 1905 and later Comanche, where he was elected as the first Stephens County attorney in 1907.^[1]

Political career

Burns moved to Oklahoma City in 1913 and was elected to the Oklahoma Senate in 1916.^[1] He was an unsuccessful candidate for governor in 1922.^[1]

Burns served as lieutenant governor from 1931 to 1935.^[1] He occasionally served as acting governor, as was the case when he set a $1,000 reward for the capture of Pretty Boy Floyd.^[2] Floyd wrote a letter to the governor threatening to rob him if he did not withdraw the reward.^[2]

Burns served in the state senate again from 1941 to 1948, before retiring to a private law practice. He died in 1950.^[1]

References

1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Robert Burns, Oklahoma Hall of Fame. (accessed July 24, 2013)
2. 1 2 Jackson, Ron. "Depression-era gangsters turned Oklahoma folk heroes," Newsok.com - Depression Era Gangster in Oklahoma. (accessed July 24, 2013)