Oklahoma GOP influencer, civic leader dies at 96
Alfred “Al” Marshall Snipes Jr., considered father of the Republican party in Oklahoma County, died Friday. He was 96.
The WWII Air Force veteran came to Oklahoma City from North Carolina in 1946 to collect a debt but eventually became a leader in state politics and civic affairs.
As a pioneering chairman of the Oklahoma County GOP, Snipes’ organizational and candidate recruiting work helped lay the foundation for a winning party. In 1966, he engineered the defeat of then-Speaker J.D. McCarty, one of Oklahoma’s most powerful Democrats, a move that established a solid future for Republicans in state politics.
Snipes in 2004 received the Skip Healey Party Builder Award, an honor bestowed to individuals responsible for helping build the Republican Party at the grassroots level. In 2012, Snipes also received the Ronald Reagan Award for lifetime achievement in the Oklahoma Republican party.
Brian Maughan, Oklahoma County Commissioner, said the Southsider was chairman of each of his campaigns for public office.
“He was a mentor and confidant to me,” Maughan said. “He was simply the greatest man I’ve ever met. I believe his accomplishments are unparalleled in any other one single life. He did several lifetimes’ worth of achievement.
“No challenge was too great. Al was never intimidated by the size of the task. He was always optimistic and cheerful. He cared for people and always worried about what would be in the best interest of the people.”
Snipes also was one of Oklahoma City’s most notable civic leaders. He was an original member of the board of trustees for South Oklahoma City Junior College, which later became Oklahoma City Community College. He served in that role with distinction and was reappointed to a second
term by Gov. Frank Keating.
“When petitions were being involved to call the election for the funding for the college, he was very involved in that,” said Jerry Steward, president of OCCC. “He has been a friend and stalwart supporter of OCCC since the inception of the college. He’s been a personal friend for decades and I will miss him personally as a friend and wise counselor. He’s really an institution that has passed on.”
In recent years the OCCC board, in recognition of his contribution to the college, named the board’s meeting room the Al Snipes Boardroom.
Among other organizations that benefited from his influence are the YMCA, Integris Southwest Medical Center and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
During his early years, Snipes became a champion Golden Gloves boxer. He also worked in the grocery business and founded an independent insurance agency in south Oklahoma City.
“He’s one of the most influential people in Oklahoma in our first century,” Maughan said.
Memorial services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday at Southern Hills Baptist Church.
He was simply the greatest man I’ve ever met. I believe his accomplishments are unparalleled in any other one single life. He did several lifetimes’ worth of achievement. Brian Maughan, Oklahoma County Commissioner