100 YEARS OF BUSINESS EXCELLENCE

 ·  CELEBRATING A CENTURY OF THE STATE CHAMBER 

 ·  CELEBRATING A CENTURY OF THE STATE CHAMBER 

 ·  CELEBRATING A CENTURY OF THE STATE CHAMBER 

 ·  CELEBRATING A CENTURY OF THE STATE CHAMBER 

1920s

  • 1926 – April 16: The State Chamber of Commerce of Oklahoma is incorporated.
  • 1927 – Oct. 12: The Chamber kicks off a $169,000 marketing campaign (that’s more than $3.2 million in today’s money) to convince eastern businessmen and investors around the world that Oklahoma was no longer the “wild west” and that our state is a great place to start a business.

1930s

Supports state agricultural organizations during Dust Bowl.

  • 1938 – Sept. 3: State Chamber president N.R. Graham and other Tulsa leaders back a plan to repeal prohibition “under the guise of a liquor control and enforcement act.”

1940s

  • 1942 – 1945: The Chamber helps organize war bond drives during WWII. 
  • 1946: The State Chamber helped push for state balanced budget amendment. 
  • 1947: The Chamber champions the building of tolls roads to increase connectivity for Oklahomans and their businesses. 

1950s

  • Oct. 22, 1952: The Chamber began its decades long push for tort reform, specifically pushing out studies and data that showed higher prices from “plumbing to pork chops” were caused by workers compensation fees that far surpassed those in nearby states. 
  • 1955: The Oklahoma Development Council and The State Chamber joined to create the Oklahoma State Chamber of Commerce. 

1960s

  • June 5, 1969: The Chamber continued its economic development efforts pushing for a constitutional amendment to permit the State Industrial Finance Authority to issue $10 million bonds to ensure funds would be there for future economic growth and job creation

1970s

  • April 8, 1977: Edmond won The State Chamber’s “Chamber of the Year” award with Governor David Boren there for the presentation. In this decade, The State Chamber championed smaller chambers to help grow Oklahoma statewide.

1980s

  • Aug. 1985: Leaders amend bylaws and announce a merger between The Oklahoma State Chamber and the Associated Industries of Oklahoma.
  • Sept. 1, 1986: Richard P. Rush was hired as President and CEO.

1990s

  • December 1990: The State Chamber of Oklahoma becomes the first state chamber in the nation to be accredited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
  • Feb. 24, 1995: Successfully raised 1.6 million to build and open the first State Chamber stand-alone building in Oklahoma at 330 NE 10th Street, Oklahoma City, OK.
  • Dec. 4, 1997: Amendment to By-Laws and changed official name to “The State Chamber – Oklahoma’s Association of Business and Industry.”
  • May 1998: The State Chamber launched its first International Trade Conference focusing on trade with China.

2000s

  • Sept. 11, 2001: The State Chamber’s Annual Washington D.C. Fly In Senatorial Briefing by U.S. Senator Don Nickles was interrupted by the terrorist attack on the Pentagon seen by the 138 delegates on the 9th floor of the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill.
  • Sept. 25, 2001: The State Chamber concluded its more than 15-year effort to pass a Right-To-Work Law in Oklahoma including a statewide advertising campaign – raising $6.2 million in funds with the help and leadership of Governor Frank Keating and campaign strategist Marc Nuttle and a coalition of 58 local chambers.

2010s

  • 2011: The State Chamber helps pass a cap on noneconomic pain and suffering damage awards.

2020s

  • May 2022: Became first state in the US to allow permanent full expensing of the cost of qualified business assets in the same tax year the asset was placed in service.
  • May 2023: Governor Signs SB 621 to create the Oklahoma Workforce Commission to coordinate workforce development in our state.
  • May 2025: Senate, House and Executive branch work together to sign significant tort reform into law putting a cap on noneconomic pain and suffering damage awards.
  • April 21, 2026: Governor signs SB 1778 strengthening the Strong Readers Act to lead change in early childhood literacy efforts statewide.
MORE PHOTOS OF THE PAST 100 YEARS