Description:
Robert Hefner was born on February 7, 1874 just outside of Lone Oak, Texas. Although born into a family of quite modest means, his family claimed to be able to trace its lineage back to Charlemagne. As a young man Hefner left for college with less than forty cents in his pocket. After finishing his law degree at the University of Texas he started a law practice in Beaumont. In January of 1908 he moved his family to Ardmore, Oklahoma where he started a law practice specializing in oil and gas law. The case that originally brought him to Ardmore would result in his receiving interest on mineral rights in lieu of payment, which would make him very wealthy. Prior to moving to Oklahoma City, Hefner served as school board president, city attorney, and mayor of Ardmore, and later one term as Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice. At the “urgent solicitations of civic leaders,” Judge Hefner decided to run for mayor once again, this time in Oklahoma City, where he would win the election in April of 1939. During his first year as mayor bonds in the amount of $6,911,000 were voted for water improvement. One project initiated during Hefner’s time as mayor was the creation of a reservoir, now known as Lake Hefner. He also helped negotiate the location of a new US Military base in Oklahoma City, Midwest Air Depot, now known as Tinker Air Force Base. Re-elected in 1943, Hefner became the first Oklahoma City mayor to be elected to consecutive terms as mayor. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1949. Robert Hefner Died on January 22, 1971 at the age of 96 and is buried at Rose Hill Burial Park.