Richard Lewis Huddleston

Richard Lewis Huddleston, 72, passed away Thursday, February 28, 2008, at his home in Guthrie, Oklahoma. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, March 6, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. in the Celebration Center at Church of the Servant, 14343 N. MacArthur in Oklahoma City. A lifelong Oklahoma City and Edmond area resident, he was born in Oklahoma City on February 22, 1936 to Bill and Carolyn Huddleston. He attended Taft Junior High and Classen High School. He served his country on active duty US Air Force from 1953 to 1957. After discharge from USAF, he was hired for a three week temporary job in the mailroom of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, which turned into a distinguished career lasting more than a quarter century. He served the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1957 to 1983. Huddleston was selected as House Administrator in 1970, and became the highest non-elective official in the House in 1976 when he was appointed as Chief Clerk-Administrator. He served under six different Speakers of the House and was recognized as a leading expert on legislative rules and procedures. Huddleston provided political commentary for the state's public television network during primary and general election night returns. He also was appointed to a five-year term on the State Capitol Preservation Commission and also served on the State Board and as President of the United Cerebral Palsy of Oklahoma. He became Founder/ President of Huddleston Investments, Inc., a private governmental relations consulting firm in 1984. In so doing, Huddleston began a second highly successful career as an independent contract lobbyist, representing multitudes of major corporations and professional associations alike, until his retirement in 2007. Huddleston held dear the sanctity of our representative democracy, and dedicated his entire professional life to preserving the integrity of the legislative process. He is survived by his wife, Margaret R. of Payson, Arizona; his sons, Steven Lewis Huddleston and wife Toni of Mt. Vernon, Missouri, Robert Gary Huddleston and wife Terri of Edmond, Oklahoma, Richard Dale Huddleston and wife Sandra of Oklahoma City; grandchildren, Alisha Dale and Meghan Rose of Mt. Vernon, Missouri, Richard Justis of Edmond; Zachary Dale and Ashlee Nicole of Oklahoma City. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations on his behalf may be made to the Oklahoma Historical Society or United Cerebral Palsy of Oklahoma.