Phillip Colgan Ferguson | |
|---|---|
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromOklahoma's8th district | |
| In office January 3, 1935 – January 3, 1941 | |
| Preceded by | E.W. Marland |
| Succeeded by | Ross Rizley |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1903-08-15)August 15, 1903 Wellington, Kansas, U.S. |
| Died | August 8, 1978(1978-08-08) (aged 74) |
| Political party | Democratic Republican |
| Spouse | Martha SharonNaoma L. Restine |
| Alma mater | University of Kansas |
| Profession | Banker |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | |
| Branch/service | |
| Years of service | 1942–1944 |
| Rank | |
| Unit | Company A, First Battalion, Ninth Marines Marine Raiders regiment |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | |
Phillip Colgan Ferguson (August 15, 1903 – August 8, 1978) was an American politician serving as aU.S. Representative fromOklahoma. Phil Ferguson was born on August 15, 1903, inWellington, Kansas, to W. M. and May Deems Ferguson. Ferguson attended public schools in Wellington, the Kemper Military School in Missouri, and graduated from theUniversity of Kansas at Lawrence, A.B., in 1926. He moved to Oklahoma and settled on a ranch near Woodward, Woodward County, working on agricultural pursuits and cattle raising. Ferguson's interest in cattle ranching later earned him a position as a president of the Northwest Cattlemen's Association and vice president of the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association. He was also director of the Bank of Woodward, which was owned by his father.
Ferguson was elected as aDemocrat to theSeventy-fourth and to the two succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1935 – January 3, 1941). As a member of the Committee on Flood Control, he helped to initiate federal involvement in soil conservation and water resources development, establishing programs that constructed reservoirs and planted native grasses in northwestern Oklahoma. In addition, he was on the Census, Elections, Public Buildings and Grounds, Irrigation and Reclamation, Rivers and Harbors, and Agriculture Committees.[1] Following two unsuccessful reelection campaigns in 1940 (Seventy-seventh Congress) and 1944 (Seventy-ninth Congress), he resumed his former pursuits. He was also an unsuccessful Democratic gubernatorial candidate in 1950 and Republican Oklahoma gubernatorial candidate in1958. Ferguson served on the Federal Reserve Board in Oklahoma City and as director of the Farm Credit Administration inWichita, Kansas.
DuringWorld War II, Ferguson was a commissionedmajor inUnited States Marine Corps from March 2, 1942, to August 1, 1944, receiving theSilver Star Medal. He saw action in the Pacific Theater in Company A, First Battalion,Ninth Marines and in theMarine Raiders Regiment.[2]
He resided inWoodward, Oklahoma, until his death inTijuana,Mexico, August 8, 1978. Phil Ferguson was cremated, and his ashes were scattered on the Pacific Ocean atSan Diego, California.
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Reuben K. Sparks | Republican nominee forGovernor of Oklahoma 1958 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromOklahoma's 8th congressional district 1935–1941 | Succeeded by |