WASHINGTON D.C. - The U.S. House of Representatives voted Wednesday night in support of U.S. Congressman Dan Boren’s legislation, H.R. 1713, to designate the Bennington Postal Building as the Wes Watkins Post Office and the USDA portion of the Agriculture Center at Lane, OK after the former U.S. Representative and Oklahoma State Senator.
“It is an honor to acknowledge Congressman Watkins’ service to the people of his community and to the State of Oklahoma in this way. He remains today a devoted public servant who works on behalf of several civic, national security, and university projects that provide a stronger future for Oklahoma,” said Boren. “Wes was a mentor for me when I worked on his Congressional staff. He continues to fulfill that role now that I represent the Second District and is a positive influence on all who know him.”
“I am very grateful, humbled, and excited that Congressman Boren has done this. My appreciation is beyond words. The value of what the Bennington community means to me is immeasurable. Agriculture has also been a central theme in my life and career, and the agricultural center at Lane has been so vitally important to all of Oklahoma; not just in the southeastern portion of the state. I thank Congressman Boren and I am truly honored,” said Congressman Watkins.
Watkins was born December 15, 1938 in DeQueen, Arkansas, but graduated from Bennington High School in 1956. He attended Oklahoma State University graduating in 1960 and earned a master’s there in 1961. After graduation, Watkins returned to work as an administrator at OSU and at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington D.C. He also served in the Oklahoma Air Nation Guard from 1960 to 1967 and the Oklahoma State Senate in 1975 and 1976. Watkins was then elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1978 from Oklahoman’s Third Congressional District, and served consecutive terms until 1991. He was again re-elected to the U.S. House in 1996 and served until 2002. Watkins is currently retired from public life and resides in Stillwater with his wife, Lou. He is still very active on various business, economic, and community development projects throughout the state of Oklahoma.
The Oklahoma State University portion of the agricultural center at Lane already bears the name, Wes Watkins Agriculture Research and Extension Center. However, Boren’s legislation would name the federal portion, USDA South Central Agricultural Research Laboratory portion of the Ag Center, after Watkins as well. Boren’s legislation passed the House without objection and now will be sent to the U.S. Senate for consideration.
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