Morris, Toby, U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 6th district (1947-1953; 1957-1961), 1899-1973
Biography
Born in Granbury, Texas, on February 28, 1899, Toby Morris moved with his family to Walters, Oklahoma, at a young age. He left high school in 1917 to join the Army. After his discharge in 1919, Morris studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1920 at the age of 21. Four years later he became the prosecuting attorney for Cotton County. He also was involved in private practice and was a district judge. After two unsuccessful attempts, Morris defeated incumbent and fellow Democrat Jed Johnson in 1946 and was reelected in 1948 and 1950. Due to a declining population, the Seventh District was combined with the Sixth District in the 1952 election. In 1952, Morris became embroiled in a rivalry that would dominate the rest of his career in national politics. For the next five elections, Morris or Victor Wickersham (the Seventh District Democratic incumbent) won the Sixth District seat. Morris was successful in 1956 and 1958. While in office, he served on the following committees: House Administration, Democratic Steering Committee, Public Lands, and Armed Services. In 1960, Morris again lost the nomination to Wickersham and never returned to national politics. He lived out his life as a judge, dying on September 1, 1973, in Lawton, Oklahoma.
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