| Daily Oklahoman, The
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
January 30, 2004
 A memorial service is scheduled next week for Robert S. Kerr
Jr., a civic leader and oldest child of one of Oklahoma's most
famous political leaders.
Kerr, who had been ill, died Wednesday, he was 77.
Born Ada, Oklahoma, October 25, 1926, the oldest of four
children born to Robert S. Kerr and Grayce Breene Kerr; admitted
to the bar, 1955, Oklahoma. Education: New Mexico Military
Institute, 1944. Preparatory ad legal education, University of
Oklahoma
He was known statewide for a lifetime of work on behalf of water
development.
He was president of the Water Development Foundation of Oklahoma
and campaigned for the Central Oklahoma Project, a plan that
envisioned navigation up the Deep Fork River and worked for
fresh water for the growing central Oklahoma counties.
The memorial service will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Bishop W.
Angie Smith Chapel at Oklahoma City University under the
direction of Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper Funeral
Home.
He was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame on Nov. 20.
His father was an oil man who became an Oklahoma governor and
then a U.S. senator.
Robert S. Kerr Jr. was senior partner of Kerr, Irvine, Rhodes &
Ables law firm. He served as a trustee of the Kerr Foundation at
its inception in 1963 and had served as chief executive and
president of the foundation, which has supported many
educational and cultural institutions.
He was responsible for more than $27 million in grants for
projects in education, health, cultural activities, human
services and the arts.
Kerr also served as a director of the Kerr-McGee Corp and was a
member of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board for many years.
As president of Oklahoma Water Inc., Kerr pressed for a
statewide water development plan. Phase 1 for the state's
southern 33 counties was completed in 1975. Phase II was
released in 1980.
"The Kerr name is synonymous with leadership, generosity and
community support, and Robert S. Kerr Jr. embodied all three,"
said Luke R. Corbett, chairman and chief executive officer of
Kerr-McGee Corp.
"We value the service he provided our company for four decades
as a member of the board of directors. Our city and state
continue to receive value from Bob's contributions to
organizations too many to name. His legacy and his love for our
state and our nation will continue to live on through the works
of his wife, Lou, and the rest of his family."
In 1980, Kerr ventured into politics, running for the U.S.
Senate.
He led a field of 11 in the Democratic primary but was defeated
in the runoff by Andy
Coats.
Then-state Sen. Don Nickles of Ponca City eventually won.
While Kerr didn't get elected, he saw his son, Robert S. Kerr
III, win a seat in the state House of Representatives and an
election for lieutenant governor.
Richard Mildren, an Oklahoma City attorney and Kerr's campaign
manager in 1980, called him "a wonderful man. He was a credit to
our state, and we're very saddened by his death."
Kerr was a veteran of the Korean War. He attended New Mexico
Military Institute and the University of Oklahoma, where he
earned a law degree. Kerr became a member of the Oklahoma Bar
Association in 1955.
Survivors include his wife, Lou, of Oklahoma City, and seven
children, Robert S. Kerr III; Sharon L. Kerr; Cody T. Kerr;
William R. Kerr; Laura K. Ogle and Steven S. Kerr, all of
Oklahoma City, and Valerie K. Hart, Spokane, Wash.; two
brothers, William G. Kerr of Jackson Hole, Wyo., and Breene M.
Kerr of Easton, Md., and a sister, Kay Adair of Oklahoma City.
The family suggests memorials be made to the Robert S. Kerr Jr.
Chair in Environmental Law at Oklahoma City University and the
Robert S. Kerr Jr. Chair in Cancer Research at the Oklahoma
Medical Research Foundation.
Sources: good faith fair use of sources stated above
Compiled, transcribed and submitted by Marti Graham, Oklahoma County, OKGenWeb Coordinator,
February 2009. Information
posted for educational purposes for viewers and researchers. The contributor is not
related to nor researching any of the above.
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