Miskelly, John Jr. (Representative)

John Miskelly, Jr.

Daily Oklahoman, The
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Sunday, June 12, 1977, page 204

...flag draped casket of Rep. John Miskelly, which lay in state in the House chambers Saturday morning. Miskelly's funeral services were held Saturday afternoon in Choctaw. He died Thursday from injuries suffered in a traffic accident last weekend. accident was at NE 36 & Hinney Road.

Daily Oklahoman, The
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
June 11, 1977, page 1

Rep. John Miskelly D-Choctaw, died Thursday from injuries he received in an accident last Saturday. Dwayne Paul Buckley, 22, driver of the pickup that rammed Miskelly's car broadside, was charge with second-degree murder Friday in the lawmaker's death

Daily Oklahoman, The
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
June 11, 1977, page 11

Count Filed In Death Of Miskelly

Dwayne Paul Buckley. 22, was charged w it h second-degree murder Friday in the traffic death of State Rep. John Miskclly of Choctaw.

Miskelly died Thursday. of Injuries he suffered Saturday when his car and a pickup truck driven by Buckley collided at Henny Road and NE 36.

Oklahoma County Dist. Atty. Andrew M. Coats said Buckley, of 2535 NW 29, is being charged under the "depraved mind section" of the second-degree murder law.

Costs said Buckley's driving before the crash was, like the conduct of a person who fires a gun into a crowded room with no intention of killing a particular person. T h e second-degree murder statute carries an automatic 10 years to life sentence on conviction.

Daily Oklahoman, The
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Sunday, June 12, 1977, page 204

Daily Oklahoman, The
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
June 11, 1977, page 18

BODY TO LIE IN STATE

Memorial Set For Miskelly

The body of State Rep. John Miskelly, 46,will lie in state in the chamber of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 10 am Saturday to allow the public to come to the State Capitol to pay their final respects.

The 46 year old chairman of the powerful House Appropriations and Budget Committee lost a six day fight for life Thursday. H was injured in a traffic collision Saturday in eastern Oklahoma County.

“He made a great contribution to all of the state, of courts; the state has no way of knowing his tremendous contributions. Miskelly served on the Midwest City Council from 1962 to 1965, when he entered the legislature with reapportionment and soon gained the reputation as a tireless worker. He was generally considered the most knowledgeable lawmaker on budget matters. Miskelly developed into a champion of the smaller schools in the state and fought hard for funds.

Before entering politics, Miskelly, a native of Oklahoma County served from 1949 to 1952 in the US Marine Corps. He received a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1956.

Funeral services were set at 3 pm Saturday at the First Baptist Church of Choctaw.

Survivors include his former wife, Betty Miskelly, a son John David, a daughter Jamie Lynn, both of the home; his mother, Mrs. John Miskelly Sr., Midwest City and three sisters, Mrs. E. Pribble, Fort Smith, Ark.; Mrs. Helen Wallis, Oklahoma City, and Mrs. William Patterson, Topeka, Kan.

Daily Oklahoman, The (Oklahoma City, OK)
July 10, 2003

Choctaw takes deed to park

In an effort to ensure a long life for Choctaw Creek Park, the city council voted Tuesday to accept the park's deed from the state

City Manager Robert Floyd said the ownership change will not alter park functions or maintenance except that the state no longer will have to give permission for events to be scheduled. The city has leased the park from the state since 1993, when it was placed on a closure list.

"We've been taking care of it since," Floyd said.

Several attempts to create a theme park on the property failed after the lease agreement was signed, and Floyd said city officials thought the state did not want the park back and probably would close it.

The 165-acre park was developed by the state in 1977 and was first named John Miskelly State Park. It contains about 80 acres of woods, several trails, a baseball field and picnic pavilions.

The park, on Harper Road, just south of NE 23, is a popular spot for community events such as Old Timers Day and the Eastern Oklahoma County Farmers Market.

March 1998 - City Manager Robert Floyd "The park, formerly named John Miskelly State Park, is owned by the state but has been leased to the city's industrial authority since 1992, when the state threatened to close 15 of its parks, including Choctaw's"

John Miskelly Jr. Memorial Highway
Oklahoma County
From Anderson Road to Harrah Road along NE 23rd Street (US62)

Daily Oklahoman, The (Oklahoma City, OK)
July 21, 1977, pg 19

Three newspapers owned by the late Rep. John Miskelly, Jr. of Choctaw, are being sold by hi sister, Mrs. Ruth Patterson, of Topeka, Kan., who is the administrator of his estate.

Notice of sale of the Suburban Sun, Harrah News and Suburban Shopper was file in Oklahoma County District Court. The three newspapers valued at $80,000 plus a boat and motor, miscellaneous furniture, fixtures, press equipment and a 1974 auto were listed. The notice states the property will be sold on or after Aug 5, bids must be in writing and sent to office of Henry, West and Sill, Choctaw.

His mother, Miskelly, Mildred K. died February 4, 1984, burial in Bethany Cemetery.
His father John Miskelly, Sr. died April 1967, burial in Bethany Cemetery.

photo courtesy of Teafor2.com

Works Cited

Oklahoma's Memorial Highways & Bridges . Oklahoma Department of Transportation. 24 Sept. 2007 <http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/memorial/htmls/listm.htm#>.