European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 2, 1981, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Nice Guy in the sooner state governors George nigh by Harry Culver United press International the handsome Man in his Early 50s danced across the stately Blue room of Oklahoma Capi Tol to his distinguished visitor with a Sang All of the occasion was governors a Day set aside for the special guest was new York com Poser Gerald it was a typical production for George Patterson Oklahoma 22nd governor and super Salesman for the sooner youre getting to be a Star on Marks lets see it was on nigh recalling that he and his wife Donna had played a bit part on the Abc soap that was taped while nigh was in new York for the demo cratic National nigh had regarded that to appearance like nearly everything else he a Way to sell i think it was Good for people to see an Oklahoma governor on National he had and the night club Singer on the show who knew Marks was had done his Home he reeled off some of Marks songs from sing ing bits As he is it True what they say about and in typical fashion nigh issued proclamations naming Marks territorial marshal of Oklahoma and pro claiming two Days As Gerald Marks when miss America Susan Powell visited the Capitol a few weeks nigh solved the problem of giving her a greater he declared 1981 Susan Powell nigh also sent out the word for several Hundred state employees to be Given time assuring a Good crowd for the television night latest project is to get More Hollywood producers to choose Oklahoma for film not just for the business it would bring from free spending production Crews but As another Way to advertise Oklahoma the democratic who sports a full head of Wavy Silver Grey hair and White Cottontail is rated by democrats and friends and As one of Oklahoma most popular chief executives of All he is favored to succeed himself when his current term ends in becoming the first Oklahoma Gover nor elected to a second those making that assessment include his when you assess his administration and his Lead what you have is a great personality without any other says one Hes got a great person that about no while state legislators complain in general that he does not assert himself As a the most recent poll showed two thirds of the members rated his performance As Good to a popular after dinner spent 16 years As lieutenant governor before his election to his current fou year term in his Campaign was typically he called his supporters George night Good wore a White Cowboy hat and Rode from town to town leading a caravan on a White one of night most popular achievements tax reductions he estimates at million is the result of forces Over which he had Little or no the world Energy like his David now a nigh came into office at a time when the states Economy was booming from rising Oil and Gas causing a corresponding Bonanza in state tax this has produced a politicians appropriations have been increased by record sums and taxes Cut during each of night first two years in february 1981 doily Magazine nigh has promised further reductions in saying he wants to create a psychology by which citizens will expect a tax Cut every nigh credits Oklahoma current including an unemployment rate below 4 to such things As a food work Western and state governments efforts to create a Good business unless someone reminds its almost As if cattle and the states biggest income had nothing to do with the governor and nigh Are frequent they stage mansion open houses they Host a constant Stream of luncheons and nigh is never mixing freely among it is More common to see him fetching extra ice or Tea for a guest than it is for him to be sitting at a head he stages governors the third thursday of each sometimes in the sometimes in a Rural the four hour period is reserved for whoever wishes to show some examples a state employee who contends he was illegally a worker who believes the state pension plan discriminates against the people wanting roads or anyone with a George night background reads like that of the mythical Horatio Alger he was born in june worked his Way through Grade and High school making deliveries for his father s Small Groc he recalls one year his birthday present was a Bicy Cle Basket to permit him to carry More he served a tour with the Navy on an aircraft Carrier in 1945 and was graduated with a a degree from a Small East Central state College at he returned to his Hometown to teach at he became the youngest person in history up to that time elected to the state four terms and eight years he was elected the youngest lieutenant governor in state history at age in the final year of his his political career seemingly ended when he was Defeated in a race for just before he left a stroke of Fate made him governor for nine that came As the result of the death of Robert Kerr and kerrs replacement by then Howard nigh dropped almost out of sight the next four then resumed his career As lieutenant Gover nor for three successive elections and 12 consecutive in Opportunity again knocked for who had pledged he would never run against an incumbent while he was lieutenant then governor announced he would run for night 16 years As a lieutenant ribbon Cut boy scout and masonic tourist promoter and civic club began paying he won successive Runoff and general elections that made him while night relationships Are generally cordial with the leaders say he is often a loner on his programs and will almost always avoid i think Hes doing a Good says democratic House speaker Dan who has frequently tangled with two years it was pretty apparent he didst have a very Good understanding of the Workings of state government and the budget despite the fact he had been lieutenant governor 16 i think he has a tendency not to Rock the for he showed no leadership on some controversial retirement there has been a reluctance on the part of the governor to discuss with the legislative leadership what he is going to that has caused the legis lature to initiate More of its own because we really had no input on this is not necessarily Draper it has led to separation of the executive and which is what the Constitution Draper led a move to successfully trim some of night tax cutting making More Money available for colleges and but All Are programs nigh will ultimately be credited one senator describes night administration As he Hast come to grips with any major but he Hast caused any David a Tulsa says nigh Doest seem to want to get involved in solving problems or dealing with difficult Phil an says nigh acts too much like a lieutenant governor whose chief function b ribbon when you Are Watson there Are times when you have to be a bad one nigh appointee to a state Agency says nigh was elected because Oklahoma voters considered him to be a Nice and she is what Oklahoma voters the stars and stripes Page 13