George Dale Derby (September 25, 1948 – August 24, 2021) was an American politician who served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from the 74th district from 2017 to 2019.[1]

Dale Derby
Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
from the 74th district
In office
January 3, 2017 – January 3, 2019
Preceded byDavid Derby
Succeeded byMark Vancuren
Personal details
Born
George Dale Derby

(1948-09-25)September 25, 1948
Eldon, Missouri
DiedAugust 24, 2021(2021-08-24) (aged 72)
Oologah Lake, Oklahoma
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Linda Derby
(m. 1975)
ChildrenDavid Derby
Jacquelyn Gonz
Micah Derby
EducationUniversity of Tulsa (B.S)
Kansas City University (D.O.)
Professionanesthesiologist
politician
Military service
Allegiance United States of America
Branch/serviceUnited States Navy
Years of service1976-1979
RankLieutenant Colonel

Early life and career

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Derby was born on September 25, 1948, in Eldon, Missouri. He later graduated from Claremore High School in Claremore, Oklahoma, in 1966. He went on to receive a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Tulsa in 1971 and a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the Kansas City University of Osteopathic Medicine in 1975.[2]

After finishing his degree, he worked in St. Louis at the Normandy Osteopathic Hospital until 1976. After leaving St. Louis, he joined the United States Navy as a lieutenant colonel. He served for three years and spent time in Guam. After leaving the Navy in 1979, Derby spent sixteen years in private practice as a primary care physician in Farmington, Missouri, before moving to Fresno, California, to serve as chief of an anesthesiology department. In 2004 Derby moved to Owasso, Oklahoma.[2] Derby started working for Bailey Medical Center in Owasso in 2006.[3]

Oklahoma House of Representatives

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Derby ran for one term in the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2016 to succeed his son, David Derby, to represent the 74th district.[4] He faced Democratic candidate Jeri Moberly in the general election on November 8, 2016.[5] Moberly had been endorsed by the Tulsa World who described Derby as "more of the same."[6] Derby defeated Moberly in the general election with over two-thirds of the vote.[7]

Oklahoma Speaker of the House Charles McCall later described Derby's time serving in the 56th Oklahoma Legislature saying "As a member of the House, Rep. Dale Derby was a conservative solution seeker who worked with others to address issues of the state."[4]

Return to Medicine and death

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After leaving the Oklahoma House of Representatives, Derby worked as an anesthesiologist in Owasso.[8] He served as the medical director of anesthesia and chairman of the board for Bailey Medical Center in Owasso, Oklahoma.[9]

Derby died on August 24, 2021, after he drowned in an accident while on Oologah Lake, near Oologah, Oklahoma, at age 72.[10] While out on the lake, Derby attempted to swim out to a drifting boat without a life jacket.[11] While swimming he went under the water and did not resurface. His body was recovered later that day by the Northwest Fire Department.[9]

Electoral history

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Oklahoma 74th State House District General Election, November 8, 2016[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dale Derby 12,765 66.59%
Democratic Jeri Moberly 6,404 33.41%
Total votes 19,169 100.0%
Republican hold

References

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  1. ^ "Representative Dale Derby". Okhouse.gov. Archived from the original on October 28, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Obituary of G. Dale Derby, DO" (PDF). ok.gov. State of Oklahoma. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  3. ^ Cooper, Skyler (August 25, 2021). "Community mourns the loss of Owasso doctor who drowned in Oologah Lake". 102.3 KRMG Tulsa. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Giles, Garrett (August 25, 2021). "Former Rep. Dale Derby of Owasso Dies in Lake Accident". Bartlesvilleradio.com. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  5. ^ Krehbiel, Randy; Hoberock, Barbara; Burress, Paris; Dixon Jr, Ferrell (November 6, 2016). "House District 74: Dale Derby (R) vs. Jeri Moberly (D)". Tulsa World.
  6. ^ Editorial Writers (October 12, 2016). "Tulsa World Endorsement: Jeri Moberly is the chance for change in Owasso's House District 74". Tulsa World. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  7. ^ "Legislative Roundup: Republicans and incumbents win big". Tulsa World. November 8, 2016. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  8. ^ McCarville, Mike (August 26, 2021). "Former Rep. Dale Derby Passes in Lake Accident". The McCarville Report. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  9. ^ a b "Owasso doctor, former legislator, dies in Oologah Lake". Tulsa World. August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  10. ^ Love, Ryan (August 25, 2021). "Former Oklahoma state rep, local physician dies in Oologah Lake incident". 2 News Oklahoma. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  11. ^ Avery, Amy (August 24, 2021). "OHP Recovers Body Of Former State Rep, Owasso Physician Dale Derby In Oologah Lake". News on 6. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  12. ^ "OK Election Results November 08 2016". results.okelections.us. Oklahoma State Election Board. Retrieved December 19, 2021.