Norman, Oklahoma - Marvin Burke York, father, grandfather, Airman, State Senator, and champion of the Equal Rights Amendment in Oklahoma, died on March 22, 2025. He was born in June of 1932 in Fredonia, Kansas, to Eaton and Octavia York, the fourth of six children. He later moved with his family to Sageeyah, Oklahoma, to farm the Cherokee allotment of his grandmother, father, and uncles. After graduating from Claremore High School, he joined the Air Force and was assigned to play trombone in the Air Force Jazz Band. After his discharge, he earned degrees in English and Instrumental Music from Northeastern State Teacher's College at Tahlequah. He then taught Honors high school English to college-bound students in Kansas and at U.S. Grant High School in Oklahoma City while attending night law school at Oklahoma City University.

While practicing law in South Oklahoma City with James Blevins, Marvin was elected to the Oklahoma Legislature in 1968 where he served until 1986. After serving six years in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, in 1976, he was elected to the State Senate. In 1981, he was elected President Pro Tempore of the Senate and served in that position until 1984. After his law partner, James Blevins, became a judge, Marvin practiced law with Lee Slater, former Senate Secretary and Chairman of the Oklahoma Election Board.

Education at all levels benefitted from Marvin's advocacy. In the mid-1980s, he foresaw the national recession that would impact Oklahoma, working to usher through legislation that would stave off crippling cuts to education and many other state services. Although his support for this legislation would ultimately prove detrimental to his political career, his prescience would reap state-wide benefits for generations to come.

Topping his list of accomplishments while in the State Legislature, Marvin spear-headed the creation of Oklahoma City Community College. He organized and led the petition drive asking citizens in the proposed district to agree to the creation of a two-year college for South Oklahoma City. During his tenure as Senate President Pro Tempore, he was able to secure appropriations to provide vital resources to allow the college to prosper and grow. Many of the buildings on the 143-acre campus are a direct result of his leadership. Today, the college is the fifth largest institution of higher education in Oklahoma and has graduated hundreds of thousands of students.

Some of Marvin's other notable legislative accomplishments include facilitating the funding and creation of Interstate 240 as well as South Oklahoma City Community Hospital which later became Integris Southwest Medical Center.

1982 brought a rare defeat to Marvin's legislative agenda. Constitutional ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment had stalled just three states short of approval and the Congressional deadline was fast approaching. Following his father's death and remembering his mother having to pay estate taxes on assets she had helped to acquire, Marvin agreed to become the ERA's principal sponsor in the Oklahoma Senate. The defeat of the ERA in the Senate was one of the chief disappointments of his legislative career, and he never wavered in his support of its provisions.

During and after his time in the Senate, Marvin worked with Oklahoma City, Oklahoma State, the Chickasaw and Cherokee Nations, and many others, to bring the First Americans Museum to fruition. He brokered an agreement with legislative leaders to enact a bond issue for the continued development of the project. The First Americans Museum (FAM) opened in 2021, honoring the histories of 39 First American Nations in Oklahoma.

After his legislative service, Marvin, along with his law partner, Lee Slater, and Oklahoma's Election Board secretary, Lance Ward, accomplished major improvements to Oklahoma's election administration. In producing a strong centralized system, Oklahoma became the first state in the nation in which all precincts had access to electronic vote counting machines. Oklahoma became the model for other states and continues to be the national leader in election administration. A critical result of this system change is that election ballots are electronically calculated and tabulated within hours after voting polls close. This system is widely favored among Oklahoma voters today as a means of ensuring ballot integrity.

Oklahoma City University conferred its Distinguished Alumnus Award on Marvin in 1982, and he was named an honorary member of the OCCC Alumni Hall of Fame in 2012. In 1984, Marvin was given the First Northeastern State University Distinguished Graduate award.

Marvin was preceded in death by his parents and five siblings (Mildred, George, Katherine, Paulyne, and Connie) and by Joan York, who was the mother of his children, Yancy and Heather. He is survived by his wife, Becky Patten; his children, Yancy York, Heather York, Eaton York, and Sam York; and his grandchildren, Jordan Seltzer, Remy Seltzer, Shae Seltzer, and Henry York.

A Celebration of Marvin's Life will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, April 19, 2025, at the OCCC Visual and Performing Arts Center Atrium, 7777 S. May Ave, Oklahoma City.

Memorial donations in Marvin's honor may be made to Oklahoma Policy Institute (ATTN: Michelle Pooch, 907 S. Detroit Ave, Ste 1005, Tulsa, OK 72120; https://okpolicy.org/donate) or Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma (PO Box 270968, OKC, OK 73137; https://secure3.convio.net/rfbo/site/Donation2).

Online condolences may be shared at www.havenbrookfuneralhome.com.