William A. Durant
William Durant | |
|---|---|
| 4th Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives | |
| In office 1911–1913 | |
| Preceded by | W. B. Anthony |
| Succeeded by | J. Harvey Maxey Jr. |
| Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives | |
| In office 1907–1917 | |
| Chief of the Choctaw Nation | |
| In office 1937–1948 | |
| Preceded by | Ben Dwight |
| Succeeded by | Harry J. W. Belvin |
| Member of the Choctaw National Council from the Pushmataha District | |
| In office 1890–1906 | |
| Constituency | Okchamali Kaunti |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 18, 1866 Bennington, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory |
| Died | August 1, 1948 (aged 82) Tuskahoma, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Nationality | American Choctaw Nation |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Ida May Corber |
| Occupation | lawyer, politician |
William A. Durant (March 18, 1866 – August 1, 1948) was a Choctaw politician in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. A lawyer, he sat in the tribal legislature and later became Speaker of the Choctaw Nation before its annexation in 1906. He played a role in Oklahoma statehood and served in the Oklahoma House, rising to become its fourth Speaker. He was the sponsor of a bill that created Southeastern Oklahoma State University. He served later in life as chief of the Choctaw Nation during World War II.