Don L. McCorkell, Jr (June 28, 1947 - March 25, 2025) was an American politician and filmmaker who served as a member of the

Oklahoma House of Representatives The Oklahoma House of Representatives is the lower house of the legislature of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Its members introduce and vote on bills and resolutions, provide legislative oversight for state agencies, and help to craft the state's ...

representing the 72nd district between 1979 and 1996. He ran unsuccessful Democratic primary campaigns in the 1996 United States Senate election in Oklahoma and 2006 Tulsa mayoral election.

Career

Politics

Don McCorkell represented the 72nd district of the

between 1978 and 1996. In 1996, McCorkell retired to run in the Democratic primary for one of Oklahoma's United States Senate seats. His campaign's top priorities were economic development and education. In 2006, McCorkell lost the Tulsa mayoral Democratic primary to Kathy Taylor. He spent $1 million self financing his campaign. During the primary he accused Taylor of voter fraud in the 2000 election, however the district attorneys' office did not file charges.

Film

After the 2006 mayoral election, McCorkell travelled to Santa Barbara to visit and eventually moved to the area. There he began making environmental documentaries. His 2008 documentary, ''Shall We Gather at the River,'' was critically acclaimed throughout the western United States.

Later years

McCorkell's wife, Marilyn, died on February 3, 2023. He died on March 25, 2025 in Santa Barbara, California and was survived by his two sons and five grandchildren.

Filmography

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:McCorkell, Don 21st-century American people Filmmakers from Oklahoma 1947 births 2025 deaths 20th-century members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives Democratic Party members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives Politicians from Baltimore