(02) Governor Charles N. Haskell, 1907 to 1911

              Office of the GovernorMS 50 (portrait only)Charles Nathaniel Haskell, Democrat. Served from 1907 to 1911. Oklahoma's first State Governor was born March 13, 1860, in Putnam county, Ohio. He was educated as a lawyer, admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1881, and began practice in Ottawa, Ohio. In 1901, he moved to Muskogee, Indian Territory, where he added to his law practice the promotion of railroads. He was a leader in the Oklahoma Constitutional Convention in 1906. After his term as Governor, from November 16, 1907, to January 9, 1911, he engaged in the oil business. He died July 5, 1933, and is buried in Green Hill Cemetery in Muskogee.The Governor of Oklahoma is the chief executive officer of the state and is elected for a four year term. Principal powers and responsibilities are outlined by the state constitution and by statute and include certain appointive powers, the veto or approval of bills passed by the Legislature, the granting of pardons and paroles, the summoning of special sessions of the legislature, and the calling out of the militia. Moreover, the Governor is directly responsible for the preparation of the state budget, serves as an ex officio member of several boards and commissions, receives reports from various state officers and agencies, and is charged with the duty of seeing that all laws are faithfully executed in the state.