Jack Walton

Born March 6, 1881 John Calloway "Jack" Walton was the eighteenth mayor of Oklahoma City. He served as mayor of Oklahoma City from 1919 to 1923. Originally from Indiana, Jack Walton moved to Oklahoma Territory a few years prior to statehood to open a business as a contractor. Walton was elected mayor in 1919, but would eventually leave the office when he was elected to serve as the fifth governor of the state of Oklahoma. In celebration of his gubernatorial inauguration, Walton held what is thought to be the Biggest Barbeque in Oklahoma City history. That political success would be short lived however, as he would be removed from office only ten months into his term. Walton currently remains the only mayor of Oklahoma City to ever serve as governor. He later ran unsuccessfully for the Senate, mayor, and again for governor. He would also serve on the Oklahoma Corporation Commission from 1933 to 1939 before leaving politics. At the age of 68 Jack Walton suffered a heart attack while riding on a city bus, and died on November 25, 1949. He is buried in Rose Hill Burial Park in Oklahoma City.