This is a tale of two McAlester high school teachers who reached Oklahoma’s biggest political stages – statewide office – six decades apart.
Unfortunately, the similarities between current state Superintendent Ryan Walters and the late Gov. George Nigh pretty much end with the words McAlester, high school teachers and statewide office.
Nigh’s death last week at 98 – amidst Walters’ flailing over nude images seen flickering on his state office TV – is a moment for all Oklahomans to reflect on what our politics has become.
What we have become.
As state superintendent – a position ideally viewed as a role model for Oklahoma’s 700,000-plus public school students – Walters is failing miserably.
If he was all about the kids, and not just himself, he’d be leading the charge to lift state’s K-12 system out of 50thnationally and to determine exactly what was glimpsed on his office television during a closed-door State Board of Education meeting – and how it got there.
Instead, he’s focused on accusing Gov. Kevin Stitt, and the two board members who revealed what they saw, of a conspiracy to destroy him. No evidence. Just accusation. Can you spell d-i-s-t-r-a-c-t-i-o-n?
Contrast that to Nigh’s distinguished career as state representative, lieutenant governor, governor and University of Central Oklahoma president.
Though in the public limelight for a half century, the squeaky-clean Nigh never let his political success go to his head. He remained genuine. Authentic. Down to earth. Wickedly funny. Devoted to wife Donna and to his state, even when it disappointed him or when times were tough.
It was just late June that Nigh delivered what was by all accounts a rousing speech at the state Democratic Party’s biennial Carl Albert Dinner in Tulsa. If anyone seemed capable of defying Father Time, it was Nigh.
Alas, he could not. But what Nigh left behind is eternal. A legacy of service that all Oklahomans should cherish – and that our elected elite should work to emulate.
In public life, Nigh didn’t seek to enrich himself; he worked to help others. He didn’t seek to dominate or crush the other side; he worked to find common ground.
House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson’s life story gives a glimpse into Nigh, the person and leader. Raised in Lawton by a single father and at times homeless, Munson earned an Oklahoma’s Promise Scholarship to UCO, where she became a student in Nigh’s leadership class.
He “defined,” she said, “what it was to be an Oklahoman. He led with dedication, passion, and kindness … always passionate about encouraging Oklahomans to get involved in leadership in their communities, especially women and younger people.
“He increased the number of women and minorities serving on state boards and commissions and appointed the first two women to serve on the Oklahoma Supreme Court, paving the way for people like me to serve in public office.”
Today, Munson not only is an elected statehouse leader, but also is running for governor in 2026.
It’s true the world is a far different place now than it was in Nigh’s heyday. But it’s also true that some things – human decency, caring for others and not obsessing with one’s self – never go out of style.
Nigh didn’t always have the right answers, but he never lost sight of what was most important: Doing right by the people of Oklahoma.
It’s a lesson Walters would be wise to learn.
Editor’s Note: Nigh will lie in state in the state Capitol rotunda on Monday, Aug. 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. His memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 14 at Crossings Community Church in OKC.
Photo: Creative Commons/weave and spin
