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“The three great essentials to achieve anything worthwhile are first, hard work; second, stick-to-itiveness; third, common sense.”
~ Thomas Edison
(as presented in the biography by Bob Burke and Ryan Leonard 1)
On a warm August evening, former Senator Don Nickles returned to Ponca City for a Po-Hi Alumni Hall of Fame event. Nickles says, “It’s always good to be here.”
A member of the first Alumni Hall of Fame class in 2017, Nickles expresses how much Ponca City and the people here affected his life overall. From a family that has been ingrained in the local society and economy since his grandfather first opened Nickles Machine Shop in 1918—which grew into Nickles Machine Corporation and then Nickles Industrial Manufacturing Corporation—Don has always felt those in the community as a powerful presence determining who he is today.
After Nickles’s father died when he was in 7th grade, local educator Paul Ingersol became a mentor and then friend to Nickles. He served as his 10th grade Social Studies teacher, developing in him an interest in government, and later even served as the best man at his wedding. Nickles feels blessed to have had Ingersol’s guidance and friendship in his younger years and returned to deliver the eulogy at Ingersol’s funeral in 2020.
Others who also served as mentors during his high school years were coaches. They taught him commitment and perseverance; while also putting forward standards that led to his not cussing (he was benched by coach Bill Currens during a football game against Guymon—yes, he remembers exactly when this happened) and not smoking (he has lost several family members from smoking-related cancers).
Ponca City has been part of the personal integrity that led him to a successful political career that began with his start in the Oklahoma Senate and then moving onto a very productive 24 years of service in the U.S. Senate, when he was the youngest Oklahoman elected. He was also the first Oklahoman elected to a fourth term. His career led him to serve as the first Oklahoman to chair the budget committee, and he served as the only Oklahoman elected as Republican majority whip, which is the second-ranking party member in the Senate.
Others like Oklahoma senator Norman Lamb from the 19th district helped mold Nickles’ faith when he invited him to be part of a Bible study he held weekly. The study, which included a group of legislators, allowed Don’s faith to grow in a way that included his approach to his work in politics. Nickles has even developed “Senator Nickles’ Seven Steps to a More Productive Life,” which he now shares with others when he has speaking engagements. He emphasizes that people should exercise both their bodies and their faith.
His impact on others is one of compassion. He’s been supported and wants to do the same for others. When asked by emcee and high school friend Larry Murphy what his easiest and most difficult challenges have been, he immediately said the easiest was marrying Linda (they were married for 53 years before he lost her in 2022). High school sweethearts who married when sophomores in college, the two shared four children and 12 grandchildren. It was a loving partnership that served him and his children well during his busy life in politics. Family always came first, and Linda helped make that possible.
Just as like-minded politicians who became friends helped Nickles early in his career, he has always done so for others. In a letter written by former Tulsa mayor G.T. Bynum, he expresses eternal gratitude to his “first boss out of college.” Bynum says, “He taught me the importance of being able to disagree without being disagreeable—that if you resort to attacking someone’s motives or character rather than their position on an issue, all you’ve done is reduce your own effectiveness by losing them as a future collaborator.” Bynum goes on to explain that Nickles showed him people can be “kind and still be strong.”
Strength wrapped in kindness and compassion seems to be a solid trait of the former senator, who explained his hardest challenge dealt with a vote on a Farm Bill that he knew would be positive in many ways for farmers but had other elements he could not support. It still weighs on his mind as he thinks back on his career.
“Principles and Perseverance: The Life of Don Nickles” is a biography about Nickles written by Bob Burke and Ryan Leonard and published in 2020. It includes a forward by The Honorable Robert J. “Bob” Dole. Dole closes his thoughts with, “Don’s character, integrity, and loyalty defined his Senate tenure and continue to define him today.” He calls him “a trusted colleague and good friend” (Burke and Leonard).
When Nickles retired from public service, he founded The Nickles Group to use his and his partner’s vast knowledge of policy and successful strategies in order to assist clients to meet their challenges. Nickles says, “In establishing a political consulting firm, I wanted to be not only successful, but also significant” (Burke and Leonard page 298). Clientele include both businesses and nonprofits as the team works to meet their individual needs.
Burke and Leonard’s biography ends with the transcript of several speeches given by Nickles during his tenure in the U.S. Senate, such as ones providing comfort to the people of Oklahoma after the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995 and the OSU plane crash in 2001. The final speech is his farewell to those in the Senate in 2004 as he prepared to retire. This speech recounted thanks to many of those who had worked alongside him during his tenure and reflected on many bills that were passed that brought him satisfaction in the job he had done representing those he served: “I have always been proud to be called a Senator and I have always been proud to represent my State and my country. To me, it represents a shining city on a hill, and a true beacon of democracy for the free world which has stood for more than 200 years” (Nickles quote in biography page 359). Don always wanted others to know someone was fighting for them.
Ponca City mayor Kelsey Wagner declared Aug. 8 “Thank You Don Nickles Day” at the fundraising event that evening, reading a proclamation that highlighted many of his achievements and what he has meant to this community. Nickles says, “Ponca City was such a special place to grow up.” The large, enthusiastic crowd at the fundraising event indicated just how much he continues to mean to those in this community.
With a strong work ethic and solid family values, Nickles has always felt like-minded with his constituents in this area. His service has been draped in compassion—solid altruism—and shows that the kindness of one individual can make a difference in the lives of those around them. Former U.S. Senator Don Nickles continues to be beloved by the community which supported him through times of growth and loss, a community filled with citizens who have felt the very same from him.
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