Penny Williams

Penny Baldwin Williams (May 6, 1937 – April 16, 2018) was an American Democratic Party politician from Oklahoma. Williams served as a legislator in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1981 to 1988, representing District 70. She later was elected to the Oklahoma Senate, representing District 33, from 1989 to 2004. Senator Williams authored important bills on education during her time in the legislature, including the historic education reform act. Williams also authored a series of bills to strengthen math and science, and the bill creating the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics. A supporter of the arts, Williams influenced art education in public schools, and was instrumental in the creation of the Art in Public Places Act. After graduating from high school, Williams attended Sarah Lawrence College from 1955 to 1956, got involved with local politics such as the campaign for Jim Jones, and worked under her mentor, Henry Bellmon. Penny worked as an education and civil rights activist up until she decided to run for legislature.

House of Representatives (1981-1988) Paul Brunton, Penny’s predecessor in the House, suggested that she should run for his seat. In 1983, she authored the bill that would serve to create the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics.

Committees Senate Chair of the Legislative Arts Caucus Chair of the Senate Education Committee

House Bill 1017 Williams' main role in House Bill 1017 was to implement a core curriculum. Williams defined this core curriculum as consisting of six subjects, not only math and science, but arts, history, among other humanities focuses. Math, Science, English, History, Geography, and the arts.

Achievements and awards Liddy Doenges Leadership in the Arts Award Jim Goodman Friend of Geography Award TU’s honorary Phi Beta Kappa Kate Barnard Award (2005) Inducted into the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame (1997) Constitution Award from Rogers State University (2004)

Service Board of Directors for the Oklahoma foundation for Excellence University of Tulsa Board of Visitors St. Gregory's College Board of Trustees Tulsa Committee on Foreign Relations Oklahoma Academy for State Goals Simon Estes Educational Foundation board Board of Directors for Street School, Inc