Kerr, Robert Samuel

Kerr, Robert Samuel

(1896–1963) oil producer, governor, U.S. senator; born in Ada, Oklahoma. Owner of the Kerr-McGee Oil Company, he served as governor of Oklahoma from 1943–47 and was elected to the U.S. Senate (Dem., Okla.; 1949–63). Liberal on many issues, he opposed civil rights legislation and regulation of the oil industry.