Gabriel Edward Parker (September 29, 1878May 8, 1953) was an American public servant. Native to the state of Oklahoma, he attended the 1906 Oklahoma Constitutional Convention and was heavily involved in the design of the state's seal. Parker was later Register of the Treasury (1913-1914) and superintendent of the Five Civilized Tribes (1915-1921).

Biography

Perker was born on September 29, 1878 in

Fort Towson, Oklahoma Fort Towson is a town in Choctaw County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 510 at the 2010 census, a 15.1 percent decline from the figure of 611 recorded in 2000. It was named for nearby Fort Towson, which had been established in May 1 ...

in the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Parker was reported to have been one-eighth Chocktaw. The following year he moved to

Nelson, Oklahoma Nelson is an unincorporated community in northwestern Choctaw County, Oklahoma, United States. It is six miles north of Soper. Spencer Academy, a Choctaw Nation school, was moved here from Spencerville. A United States Post Office was establish ...

. He graduated in 1894 from Spencer Academy and entered

Henry Kendall College The University of Tulsa (TU) is a private research university in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It has a historic affiliation with the Presbyterian Church and the campus architectural style is predominantly Collegiate Gothic. The school traces its origin to ...

, graduating five years later. Parker first worked as a teacher at Spencer Academy and

Armstrong Academy Chahta Tamaha (Choctaw Town) served as the capital of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Choctaw Nation from 1863 to 1883 in Indian Territory. The town developed initially around the Armstrong Academy, which was operated by Protestant religious missi ...

. In 1906 he attended the 1906 Oklahoma Constitutional Convention, where the states constitution was developed. As a member of the convention, Parker led design of the Seal of Oklahoma, earning the nickname "Great Seal Parker". Parker later served as Register of the Treasury from 1913 to 1914. His appointment was reported as marking the first time a Native American held the post. From 1915 to 1921 he was superintendent of the Five Civilized Tribes in Oklahoma. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1932. Parker died from a heart attack at his home in Oklahoma City on May 8, 1953, a few hours after hearing of his son's death from a heart attack in England on the same day.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Parker, Gabe E. 1878 births 1953 deaths United States Department of the Treasury officials University of Tulsa alumni Members of the Oklahoma Constitutional Convention