Background
McSpadden was born on a ranch near the small town of Bushyhead in Rogers County, Oklahoma. He grew up on a ranch owned by Will Rogers in nearby Oologah, where he attended public schools.
officer politician rancher representative
McSpadden was born on a ranch near the small town of Bushyhead in Rogers County, Oklahoma. He grew up on a ranch owned by Will Rogers in nearby Oologah, where he attended public schools.
He attended the University of Redlands, North Texas Agricultural College, and the University of Texas before he received his bachelor of science degree in 1948 from Oklahoma State University–Stillwater, then known as Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical.
He was also the grandnephew of Oklahoma comedian and actor Will Rogers. He served in the United States Navy during World World War II (1944–1946). He served in that body until 1972, including leading it for two sessions as President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate.
He was elected to the Ninety-third Congress in November 1972, and served one term (January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1975), serving on the House Rules Committee.
He chose to run for Governor of Oklahoma in 1974 rather than seek reelection for a second congressional term. His gubernatorial candidacy was unsuccessful, as David L. Boren, later a United States senator and the president of the University of Oklahoma, received the Democratic nomination instead.
McSpadden was involved in rodeos throughout North America as a broadcaster, including the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Calgary Stampede, and the Canadian Finals Rodeo. In 1974, he hired a then unknown Reba McEntire to sing the National Anthem at the National Rodeo Finals.
He was inducted into both the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1990.
He was quoted by the Tulsa World as observing "an amazing correlation" between the politics and the rodeo profession, "in that there’s bull in each profession." He is also known, especially through the rodeo community, for his authorship of "A Cowboy"s Prayer."
After being diagnosed with cancer, McSpadden died at the Doctor of Medicine Anderson Cancer Center in Houston on July 7, 2008. A portion of Oklahoma State Highway 66 between Claremore and Bushyhead was designated Clem McSpadden Highway in 1985. The post office in Chelsea, Oklahoma, where he made his home, was renamed the "Clem Rogers McSpadden Post Office Building" in his honor in January 2008.
Son of Herbert T. McSpadden & Madalyn (Palmer) M. Married Donna Marie Casity, 1962. Children: Barton Casity.