Source: City of Broken Arrow
Mayor Phenie Lou Ownby was not only the first woman mayor in Broken Arrow, but she was also the first in the state of Oklahoma and the sixth in the nation, having served from 1931 to 1933.
Miss Phenie, as she was known at the time, implemented a city clean-up plan, opened a wading pool, and a skating rink during her term.
Ownby was intelligent and resolute and made national news twice — once when she was elected by 40 votes and once by threatening to shut off the water for residents who were not paying their water bills.
She took the job seriously and examined the city’s government and issues facing the town of about 2,000 people. Her audits revealed that many wealthy citizens were not paying their water bills. When the councilmen didn’t know what to do about it, and the Broken Arrow Ledger wouldn’t run an article to expose it, she took out an ad in the newspaper.
The ad read, “Some people seem to think the world owes them something. Maybe it does, but they won’t get it from this administration.”
According to the Tulsa World, that move was considered “radical and tough.” It was the first time a mayor of any gender had taken such an action to collect past due bills. She even threatened to arrest those who had the means but failed to comply.
Ownby cut off the water for some of her best friends, and they even remained friends after implementing her policies.
The mayor gave a list of 50 delinquent water customers to the Street and Water Commissioner with instructions to cut off the water services for residents who refused to pay.
Though she was tough, she also had compassion and served during the middle of the Great Depression. She asked City Council members to verify the accounts of residents who could not afford to pay. According to The Museum Broken Arrow, unemployed residents were allowed to work for the City to pay off their past-due accounts.
Those that could afford to pay were expected to do so.
“The elite have been frankly told that if they don’t pay up, they will find themselves after a party some night with stacks of china, glass, and silver and not a drop of water to wash the stains away,” according to a St. Louis newspaper at the time.
The City Water Department went from near bankruptcy to its highest revenue collection in more than seven years during her tenure. She helped the local schools pay for their water usage with the increased revenue.
Ownby made significant contributions to Broken Arrow, but she didn’t run for a second term. She said at the time, it was too much work, her telephone rang constantly, and there was always something to worry about.
We appreciate Phenie Lou Ownby for her trailblazing service to our community! While her tenure was short, her legacy as the first female Mayor lives on in Broken Arrow.
In 2021, history was made again as Mayor Debra Wimpee and Vice-Mayor Christie Gillespie were elected as Mayor and Vice-Mayor in the same year. Happy International Women’s Month!
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