Glenn English | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromOklahoma's6th district | |
| In office January 3, 1975 – January 7, 1994 | |
| Preceded by | John Newbold Camp |
| Succeeded by | Frank Lucas |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Glenn Lee English Jr. (1940-11-30)November 30, 1940 (age 84) Cordell, Oklahoma |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Jan Barnett |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Southwestern Oklahoma State University |
| Occupation | Chief Executive Officer of theNational Rural Electric Cooperative Association |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1965–1971 |
| Rank | Staff Sergeant |
| Unit | United States Army Reserve |
Glenn Lee English Jr. (born November 30, 1940) is aU.S.Democraticpolitician who representedOklahoma's 6th congressional district for 10 successive terms. English is formerly thechief executive officer of theNational Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
English was born inCordell, Oklahoma, (located inWashita County). He earned hisBachelor of Artsdegree fromSouthwestern Oklahoma State University in 1964. English joined theUnited States Army Reserves and rose to therank ofstaff sergeant. After completingmilitary service in 1971, he worked in theoil andnatural gas leasing business, was arealtor, soldinsurance, and worked inmortgagelending. He met and married Jan Pangle Barnett and together they had two children John Lee and Tyler Janine. They lived inMcLean, Virginia while Glenn was in office.
English's first job inpolitics was as a staff member for the majority caucus of theCalifornia State Assembly. Later, he worked as a legislative staffer in theU.S. House of Representatives. After serving as the executive director of theOklahoma 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. It spanned from theOklahoma Panhandle to northeasternOklahoma City, including along the way some of the most rural and conservative territory in Oklahoma.
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 byFrank Lucas, aRepublican.
Upon his departure from Congress in 1994, English becameCEO of theNational Rural Electric Cooperative Association (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.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromOklahoma's 6th congressional district 1975–1994 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byas Former US Representative | Order of precedence of the United States as Former US Representative | Succeeded byas Former US Representative |
