Southwest Oklahoma Republican Women will meet Tuesday, Nov. 24, at 6 p.m., at the Farm Bureau of Altus, 1001 Tamarack Rd., with Owen Laughlin, candidate for State Treasurer as the speaker. Everyone is invited to attend. A meal will be served at a cost of $5 per person.

Owen Laughlin graduated from Southern Nazarene University in 1973 with a BA Degree in Political Science, and from Oklahoma City University in 1976 with a Juris Doctor degree in Law. In 1996 he was elected to the Oklahoma State Senate from 10 counties in Northwest Oklahoma and the Panhandle, a district that covers 1/6 of the State.

Senator Laughlin is a Certified Flight Instructor, and an Attorney, and has practiced law in Northwest Oklahoma. He has also been in the banking business for 20 years and managed real estate investments since his graduation. He was named 1999 National Legislator of the year by the National Republican Legislators Association.

Senator Laughlin was re-elected to the Senate by 80% of the vote in 2004, and finished 12 years of service in November 2008. During the 2007 and 2008 sessions, Senator Laughlin served as Republican Floor Leader during a very difficult period when, for the first time in state history, the Senate was tied 24-24.

After graduating from Law School he and his wife, Charlette moved to Woodward, where they have made their home for 32 years. They have been married for 35 years and have four children ages 22 to 30.