Lee Van Winkle

Dates in office: April 10, 1899 - April 8, 1901
                           April 13, 1903 - April 10, 1905
Born: July 17, 1862
Died: January 4, 1928

Robert E. “Lee” Van Winkle was born in Benton County, Arkansas to a prominent lumber mill family. He came to Oklahoma City in 1889 and formed the Oklahoma Sash and Door Company and later served as President of the Retail Lumber Dealers of Oklahoma.

When Van Winkle was elected to his first term as Mayor, the City government was still operating out of a dilapidated building.  The water supply for residents and business was purchased by contract, and most streets were still dirt and gravel. When Van Winkle was elected Mayor again in 1903, the City’s Engineering, Auditing, and Accounting departments were created. Lee also succeeded in securing money to pave City streets. In the two years of Van Winkles second term, the Mayor and Council passed over 120 ordinances regulating business in the city, providing for a water supply, and securing sanitary management of sewage and waste.