William Henry “Alfalfa Bill” Murray (1869-1956)

Oklahoma Governor. "Alfalfa Bill" Murray, the "Sage of Tishomingo", was one of the most colorful of Oklahoma's governors, serving from 1931-1935. He was presiding officer of the state constitutional convention (1906) and U.S.Congressman from 1912-1916. During his tenure as governor he dared the legislature to try and impeach him, laying a pistol on his desk and implying he would use it. He called out the National Guard 27 times and declared martial law 34 times. He campaigned unsuccessfully for U.S. President in 1932. He called out the National Guard against Texas in the Red River "Toll Bridge War," July, 1931, to reopen an Oklahoma-constructed free bridge across the Red River which had been closed by the Texas governor. He threatened to dynamite the bridge. He is called "Alfalfa Bill" because of his tireless support of the planting of alfalfa in Oklahoma to restore nitrogen to the cotton ravaged soil. Alfalfa and Murray counties and Lake Murray are named for him.