T. W. Shannon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
T. W. Shannon
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| 46th Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives | |
| In office January 8, 2013 – February 10, 2014 |
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| Preceded by | Kris Steele |
| Succeeded by | Jeff Hickman |
| Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from the 62nd district |
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| In office January 2, 2007 – January 5, 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Abe Deutschendorf |
| Succeeded by | John Montgomery |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Tahrohon Wayne Shannon
February 24, 1978 Lawton, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Nationality | American Chickasaw Nation |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Devon Murray
(m. 2001) |
| Education | Cameron University (BA) Oklahoma City University (JD) |
Tahrohon Wayne Shannon, born on February 24, 1978, is an American banker and politician. He served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 2007 to 2015. In 2013, he made history by becoming Oklahoma's first African-American Speaker of the House. The Speaker is a leader who guides discussions and votes in the state's House of Representatives.
Shannon later ran for a seat in the U.S. Senate in 2014. He had support from some well-known political figures. However, he did not win the Republican nomination for that election. In 2022, he ran for the U.S. Senate again but was also unsuccessful.
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Early Life and Education
T. W. Shannon was born in Oklahoma on February 24, 1978. His father was a member of the Chickasaw Nation, and his mother was African-American. Both of his parents were history teachers.
Shannon went to Cameron University and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications. Later, he studied law at Oklahoma City University School of Law. He earned a Juris Doctor degree, which is a law degree.
His Career in Politics
Shannon started his career working for important political figures. He was a field representative for former Congressman J. C. Watts. He also worked in the same role for Congressman Tom Cole.
Shannon is an enrolled citizen of the Chickasaw Nation. He worked as the chief administrative officer for Chickasaw Nation Enterprises. This role involved managing many important business activities for the Chickasaw Nation.
Serving in the Oklahoma House
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T. W. Shannon was first elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2006. He won against his opponent, Janice Drewry. He quickly became a leader in the state House.
In his first term, he was a deputy majority whip. This role helps make sure members vote according to their party's plans. In his second term, he led the transportation committee. By his third term, he was chosen to be the speaker-designate. On January 8, 2013, Shannon officially became the speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
As Speaker, Shannon worked on several important ideas. He suggested finding and selling state-owned properties that were not being used well. He also proposed an eight-year plan to use state income tax money to fix Oklahoma's bridges. Many bridges needed repairs to be safe.
He also created a plan to manage state-owned properties better. The first property sold under this plan was a former TV studio, which brought in $130,000. Other properties were also put up for sale.
Shannon also supported a measure about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps. This program helps people buy food. He wanted people receiving aid to do work activities. This idea was later changed because of the cost of providing job training.
House district 62, which Shannon represented, includes the city of Lawton, Oklahoma and nearby areas.
Running for U.S. Senate
Shannon left his role as Speaker to run for the Republican nomination in the 2014 United States Senate special election in Oklahoma. He wanted to take the place of Senator Tom Coburn.
He had support from some well-known politicians, including U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. However, he lost the Republican nomination to U.S. Representative James Lankford.
In March 2022, Shannon announced he would run for the U.S. Senate again. This was for the 2022 United States Senate special election in Oklahoma, to replace Senator Jim Inhofe. He received support from Bill Anoatubby, the Governor of the Chickasaw Nation. Shannon came in second place among 13 candidates, which meant he went to a runoff election. In the runoff, he was defeated by Markwayne Mullin.
Personal Life
T. W. Shannon attends Bethlehem Baptist Church in Lawton. He met his wife, Devon Murray, at Cameron University. They got married in 2001 and have two children, a daughter and a son. Today, he is the CEO of Chickasaw Community Bank in Oklahoma City.
