Glenn English
Encyclopedia
Glenn Lee English, Jr. (born November 30, 1940) is a U.S.
Democratic
politician
who represented Oklahoma's 6th congressional district
for 10 successive terms. English is currently the chief executive officer
of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
.
degree
from Southwestern Oklahoma State University
in 1964. English joined the United States Army Reserves and rose to the rank
of staff sergeant. After completing military service
in 1971, he worked in the oil
and natural gas
leasing business, was a realtor, sold insurance
, and worked in mortgage
lending.
was as a staff member for the majority caucus of the California State Assembly
. Later, he worked as a legislative staffer in the U.S. House of Representatives. After serving as the executive director of the Oklahoma Democratic Party
(from 1969 to 1973), English was elected as a Democrat to Congress representing Oklahoma's 6th Congressional District (in November 1974). English was re-elected to Congress nine times. He was one of the most conservative Democrats in the chamber, which was not surprising given the nature of his district.
While in Congress, English served on the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Government Operations. He also was the Chairman of the Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Control.
In addition, English chaired the Government Information, Justice and Agriculture Subcommittee where he won approval for the military to use aircraft and radar to assist Custom agents in the interdiction of drug smugglers. During the 1985–86 term, English was instrumental in securing a $20 million federal hub in Oklahoma City to assist in the war on drugs which is currently located at the Will Rogers Airport.
In 1993, Glenn was also effective in halting a plan to reduce the work of the Rural Electrification Administration (REA). In a series of meetings between the Committee on Agriculture and the White House, Glenn successfully interceded between the two organizations to enhance REA's status and the quality of life for rural America.
English resigned from the House on January 7, 1994, and was succeeded in Congress by Frank Lucas, a Republican.
(NRECA), based in Arlington, Va. NRECA is the national trade association for the Nation's 900-plus locally owned, consumer-controlled, non-profit electric cooperatives which currently delivers electricity to 42 million Americans in 47 states. On May 5, 2010, after serving as chief executive officer for NRECA for 16 years, English was inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who represented Oklahoma's 6th congressional district
Oklahoma's 6th congressional district
Oklahoma's sixth congressional district is a former Congressional district in western Oklahoma. Oklahoma gained 3 seats from the 1910 census, but elected the extra seats at-large in 1912. The sixth district was thus actually created and used for the 1914 House election. Oklahoma has gradually...
for 10 successive terms. English is currently the chief executive officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association is the organization that represents over 900 electric cooperatives in the United States. Independent electric utilities are not-for-profit and are owned by their members...
.
Military service and business activities
English was born in Cordell, Oklahoma, (located in Washita County). He earned his Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
from Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Southwestern Oklahoma State University is a public university in Weatherford and Sayre, Oklahoma. It is one of seven state regional universities in the state of Oklahoma.The current president of SWOSU is Randy Beutler.-History:...
in 1964. English joined the United States Army Reserves and rose to the rank
Military rank
Military rank is a system of hierarchical relationships in armed forces or civil institutions organized along military lines. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms...
of staff sergeant. After completing military service
Military service
Military service, in its simplest sense, is service by an individual or group in an army or other militia, whether as a chosen job or as a result of an involuntary draft . Some nations require a specific amount of military service from every citizen...
in 1971, he worked in the oil
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
and natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
leasing business, was a realtor, sold insurance
Insurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
, and worked in mortgage
Mortgage loan
A mortgage loan is a loan secured by real property through the use of a mortgage note which evidences the existence of the loan and the encumbrance of that realty through the granting of a mortgage which secures the loan...
lending.
Service in Congress
English's first job in politicsAmerican politics
American politics is an area of study within the academic discipline of political science. It is primarily, but not exclusively, studied by researchers in the United States...
was as a staff member for the majority caucus of the California State Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
. Later, he worked as a legislative staffer in the U.S. House of Representatives. After serving as the executive director of the Oklahoma Democratic Party
Oklahoma Democratic Party
The Oklahoma Democratic Party is an Oklahoma political party affiliated with the United States Democratic Party. Along with the Oklahoma Republican Party, it one of the two major parties in Oklahoma politics....
(from 1969 to 1973), English was elected as a Democrat to Congress representing Oklahoma's 6th Congressional District (in November 1974). English was re-elected to Congress nine times. He was one of the most conservative Democrats in the chamber, which was not surprising given the nature of his district.
While in Congress, English served on the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Government Operations. He also was the Chairman of the Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Control.
In addition, English chaired the Government Information, Justice and Agriculture Subcommittee where he won approval for the military to use aircraft and radar to assist Custom agents in the interdiction of drug smugglers. During the 1985–86 term, English was instrumental in securing a $20 million federal hub in Oklahoma City to assist in the war on drugs which is currently located at the Will Rogers Airport.
In 1993, Glenn was also effective in halting a plan to reduce the work of the Rural Electrification Administration (REA). In a series of meetings between the Committee on Agriculture and the White House, Glenn successfully interceded between the two organizations to enhance REA's status and the quality of life for rural America.
English resigned from the House on January 7, 1994, and was succeeded in Congress by Frank Lucas, a Republican.
National Rural Electric Cooperative
Upon retirement from Congress in 1994, English became CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative AssociationNational Rural Electric Cooperative Association
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association is the organization that represents over 900 electric cooperatives in the United States. Independent electric utilities are not-for-profit and are owned by their members...
(NRECA), based in Arlington, Va. NRECA is the national trade association for the Nation's 900-plus locally owned, consumer-controlled, non-profit electric cooperatives which currently delivers electricity to 42 million Americans in 47 states. On May 5, 2010, after serving as chief executive officer for NRECA for 16 years, English was inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.
See also
- U.S. House of Representatives
- Oklahoma Democratic PartyOklahoma Democratic PartyThe Oklahoma Democratic Party is an Oklahoma political party affiliated with the United States Democratic Party. Along with the Oklahoma Republican Party, it one of the two major parties in Oklahoma politics....
- Oklahoma Congressional DistrictsOklahoma Congressional DistrictsAs of the 2000 census, there are five Oklahoma United States congressional districts. Previous to the 2000 Census, Oklahoma had six congressional districts. Oklahoma was one of eight states to lose one seat in the House of Representatives that year....