- Tom Steed
Thomas Jefferson ("Tom") Steed (
March 2 ,1904 -June 8 ,1983 ) was amilitary veteran ,newspaper editor and Democraticpolitician and a retired U.S. Congressman fromOklahoma . He often stated that his experience injournalism , the military and in theU.S. Congress had taught him "knowledge is power".Early life and career
Steed was born on a farm near in
Eastland County, Texas (nearRising Star, Texas ) onMarch 2 ,1904 . His family later moved to Oklahoma, where he attended school (inKonawa, Oklahoma ). Byprofession , he was ajournalist ; Steed worked in the field for over twenty years, including a four year stint as themanaging editor of the "Shawnee News-Star". After the outbreak ofWorld War II , Steed enlisted in the U.S. Army onOctober 29 ,1942 , and was assigned the task of working with Anti-aircraft Artillery. Steed was released fromactive duty in May 1944 with rank ofSecond Lieutenant . Steed continued his contribution to the U.S. war effort when he joined the Office of War Information onJuly 1 , 1944. Steed also served with the information division in India-Burma Theater until December 1945.Entry into politics
Steed ran for Congress in 1948 and was elected as a Democrat. Steed was re-elected in 1950, and was continuously re-elected until 1980, when he decided to retire. Steed served a total of 32 years in Congress.
Later life and death
Steed returned to Oklahoma and resided in Shawnee, where he remained until his death on
June 8 ,1983 . Steed is buried at Resthaven Cemetery in Shawnee, Oklahoma. After his death, a portion of U.S. Interstate 40 (near Shawnee) was renamed the "Tom Steed Memorial Highway."ee also
*
Politics of Oklahoma
*Oklahoma Democratic Party
*Oklahoma Congressional Districts External links
* [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=S000829 Tom Steed at Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress]
*findagrave|6876712 Retrieved on2008-03-24
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