Bob Oke
Robert "Bob" Oke (September 4, 1940 - May 14, 2007) was an American politician who served 16 years in the Washington State Senate representing portions of Kitsap County, Washington. A member of the Republican Party, he is credited with championing construction of a second Tacoma Narrows Bridge and for his work on youth smoking prevention.[1][2]
Oke was born in Spokane and raised in Seattle. Prior to his 1990 election to the senate, he was a career seaman in the U.S. Navy, retiring as a senior chief petty officer. Well-liked by both Democratic and Republican colleagues in the legislature, Oke was interred with military honors at Tahoma National Cemetery in a memorial attended by Governor of Washington Christine Gregoire, Rep. Norm Dicks, and at least half-a-dozen sitting and former state legislators. Following Oke's death, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's Lewis County Game Farm was renamed the Bob Oke Game Farm in his memory.[1][2][3]
Oke opposed Washington House Bill 2661, which bans various forms of LGBTQ discrimination, on biblical grounds.[4]
References
[edit]- 1 2 Grimley, Brynn (May 21, 2007). "Remembering Former Sen. Bob Oke: 'Just One Heck of a Statesman'". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- 1 2 Ammons, David (May 16, 2007). "Bob Oke, former state senator who backed new Narrows bridge, dies at 66". Seattle Times. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- ↑ "Centralia Game Farm renamed in honor of Sen. Bob Oke". wdfw.wa.gov. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- ↑ Mcgann, Chris (27 Jan 2006). "A long-awaited win for gay rights: Senate OKs state anti-bias bill". Seattle PI. Hearst Newspapers, LLC. Retrieved 28 May 2025.