In 1948, at the age of 21, Gene Stipe was elected to the Oklahoma State House of Representatives representing Pittsburgh County, making him the youngest person elected to the state legislature. Stipe won a senate seat in 1956 and served for forty-eight years, making him the longest-serving Oklahoma State Senator.   

Gene had a reputation as an excellent trial lawyer and took the lead in some important Oklahoma court cases.

On January 1st, 2000, Gene published the book A Gathering of Heroes, featuring stories of many Oklahomans. 

Some of the heroes he talked about included former U.S. Senator Robert Kerr, Judge Luther Bohanon, and Lloyd Rader.

The book is still available on Amazon.  

Gene Stipe was 85 when he died on July 21st, 2012.

When John Erling was with KRMG radio, he interviewed Gene about the book in 2000, and you can hear the interview now on the podcast and oral history website VoicesOfOklahoma.com.