Henry M. Scales

Dates in office: April 8, 1907 – October 18, 1910
Born: March 13, 1869
Died: December 15, 1918

Henry Minor Scales was born in Holly Springs, Mississippi and graduated with honors from Vanderbilt University and Johns Hopkins University. He was an accomplished lawyer and college lecturer when he came to Oklahoma City in 1903 to work in insurance and real estate.

Scales was elected Mayor in 1907 based on the slogan Let the People Rule.  During his first term, Mayor Scales directed the Chief of Police to shut down the gambling houses, and an ordinance prohibiting the sale of alcohol was adopted in September of 1907 that closed the City’s saloons.  However, the gambling houses did not remain closed for very long, and bootleggers provided liquor.

Mayor Scales was elected to a second term and called for citizens’ help in a civic cleanup.  He suspended the Chief of Police, and a grand jury investigated charges of graft and corruption by City officials.  Mayor Scales was cleared of any wrongdoing, but several City and County officials were forced to resign.

Scales himself resigned on October 18, 1910, citing matters of personal business.