Don Hoover, once considered one of the state’s top political strategists and a national award-winning radio journalist, died Wednesday in Tulsa after a lengthy illness. He was 74. Funeral services are pending.
Known for his frank talk and his many hard-fought political battles, Hoover was considered the top Democratic political strategist in Oklahoma during the 1990s. He was instrumental in the election of David Walters as governor and the passage of numerous state questions.
Hoover consulted on the campaigns of dozens of state lawmakers, led the effort to prevent the repeal of House Bill 1017, served as the Oklahoma coordinator for the Michael Dukakis for President campaign and as the key strategist on the first MAPS campaign.
He was also controversial.
Political fights and fistfights
In 1994, after the gubernatorial campaign, Hoover got into an argument and was punched in the face by…
