For Immediate Release: December 27, 2010

Anderson Mourns Passing of Sen. Butch Choate

Sen. Patrick Anderson on Monday expressed sadness at the passing of former Sen. Butch Choate, referring to the Hennessey native as a true statesman. Choate passed on December 24, after suffering a heart attack. Choate served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1980-1982, and in the Oklahoma State Senate from 1982-1990.

Choate was both a constituent and friend of Anderson.

“Butch was a true statesman and public servant,” said Anderson, R-Enid. “He loved his family and community and cared deeply about the people in rural Oklahoma. Butch was a friend, a supporter and a mentor to me – he will be missed by all who knew him.”

Anderson fondly remembered Choate as a person who always placed the needs of others above his own.

“Butch was the type of person that everyone enjoyed being around, as he could always light up a room with his personality,” Anderson said. “He would tell great and entertaining stories, and was very attentive to ongoing political issues. Whenever I would visit him, Butch would drop whatever he was doing and invite me into his office to discuss current events. However, before we would discuss politics, he would always want me to update him about my family first. I believe that describes the type of person that Butch was – people were important to him.”

For more information contact:
Sen. Anderson: (405) 521-5630