Richard Morrisette
By James Lockhart
I got a phone call today. My good friend Donnie Condit called to tell me Richard Morrisette passed away. Richard was a state representative from Oklahoma City. Richard was raised in New England and served in the New Hampshire legislature before moving to Oklahoma. He was an attorney too. Richard always had a funny story to tell.
He laughed about being from back east. He told stories about the mob and how scary it was growing up there and working in mob territory as a young man.
When I was in the legislature I kept bread and deli meat in my office at the Capitol. Richard would come by, eat a sandwich and tell stories. He was a messy eater, but such a good story teller I never complained about the messes he left.
One time a group of us went to Miami, Florida. We had meetings every day. However one day Richard went to the rich part of town to visit friends. He could visit with welders one minute and the wealthy the next. He talked to a gas station attendant one day for ten minutes about minimum wage. He always made time for everyone, no matter what.
People from both of the political parties liked Richard. He was always laughing, joking and carrying on. There was never a dull minute.
My mom was a surveyor for the health department while I was in the legislature. She inspected nursing homes. Richard fought hard for people in nursing homes, he quizzed my mom a lot about what could be done to protect nursing home patients.
Richard Morrisette cared about people, he never stopped fighting what was right. As a legislator and as an attorney, he never quit. I read where he was on a political tv show in Oklahoma City over 500 times. He was a brilliant debater and advocate for working class people. He was awarded the prestigious “mouth of the house” while in the Oklahoma legislature.
Oklahoma lost a true advocate this week. Richard Morrisette was a legend, and he was my friend. He wasn’t a cowboy like me, but he’d have worn the white hat if he was.
Rest in Peace my good friend. I’m going to miss you.
James
Get Local News!
