Stanley Draper
Stanley Draper | |
|---|---|
A statue of Stanley Draper in Oklahoma City. | |
| Managing Director of OKC Chamber of Commerce | |
| In office 1930–1960 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Stanley Carlisle Draper November 21, 1889 Lasker, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | January 8, 1976 (aged 86) Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Heart failure |
| Resting place | Rose Hill Burial Park, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
| Party | Democratic |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1914–1919 |
| Rank | First lieutenant |
Stanley Carlisle Draper (November 21, 1889 – January 8, 1976) was an American community leader responsible for the growth of Oklahoma City into a regional power during the mid-20th century. Together with Edward K. Gaylord, and other prominent members of the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, he was able to shape the city into its present form. He was instrumental in the creation of Tinker Air Force Base, the Federal Aviation Administration Center, Will Rogers World Airport, Lake Hefner, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, and many infrastructure projects key to establishing Oklahoma City as a transportation hub.
Lake Stanley Draper holds his namesake after his plan for a reservoir near Tinker Air Force Base came to fruition. He was known for his sometimes utopian and superfluous ideas on city planning, resulting in massive annexations of the area surrounding the city. One of his failed visions included an attempt to expand the city borders across the state to Tulsa, Oklahoma creating an Oklahoma megalopolis. This led to Oklahoma City growing to become one of the most extensive cities in the United States.