Gov. Anoatubby once again named ‘Most Powerful Oklahoman’ in annual survey

This article appeared in the August 2020 edition of the Chickasaw Times

OKLAHOMA CITY – For the fifth year in a row, Governor Bill Anoatubby has been named “Most Powerful Oklahoman” in an annual survey sponsored by OKC Friday newspaper.

OKC Friday publisher Vicki Clark Gourley wrote Gov. Anoatubby was “overwhelmingly” selected in balloting conducted this year. Ballots were sent to 250 important leaders in business, government and civic endeavors.

Other Chickasaws were also honored by their peers as among the most important in the state.

They include longtime Fourth District U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, at No. 7; business leader and founder of Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores Tom Love at No. 16; and Chickasaw Nation Secretary of Commerce Bill G. Lance Jr., at No. 22.

All these men are Chickasaw citizens.

Fifty Oklahomans were included in OKC Friday survey. The newspaper publishes weekly, serving Nichols Hills, The Village and northwest Oklahoma City.

The top 10 finishers included Governor Anoatubby (1); Oklahoma City Thunder owner Clay Bennett (2); Oklahoma City Mayor Dave Holt (3); Oklahoma civic leader and former assistant attorney general Tricia Everest (4); banking scion David Rainbolt, executive chairman of BancFirst Corporation (5); Larry Nichols, oilman and co-founder of Devon Energy (6); Rep. Cole (7); Oklahoma U.S. Senator James Lankford (8); Judy Love, wife of Chickasaw citizen Tom Love (9); and billionaire shale oil executive Harold Hamm (10).