Lisa Pryor, Oklahoma Democratic Party (ODP) Chair, today announced that State Superintendent Sandy Garrett and former ODP Executive Director Pat Hall are the recipients of the 2006 Carl Albert Award. The Award recognizes committed Democrats whose lives and service are a credit to the State of Oklahoma and the Democratic Party. The 12th Annual Carl Albert Award Dinner will be held at the Will Rogers Theater in Oklahoma City on June 9th.

"We are thrilled to honor Sandy Garrett and Pat Hall this year. I cannot think of a more fitting tribute to two of Oklahoma's most distinguished individuals and dedicated Democrats than the Carl Albert Award," Pryor said. "Sandy is a history setting Superintendent who has been elected by Oklahoma voters four consecutive terms. Pat has been a leader in the Democratic Party for years who modernized the party organization that has contributed to our successes."

About the Award Winners:

Sandy Garrett
As the only woman in Oklahoma history to be elected to the constitutional post of State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Sandy Garrett is also the only Oklahoma woman elected to a statewide office for four consecutive four-year terms. A proud member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, she has been active in the Democratic Party, winning her first term as Superintendent in 1991. Superintendent Garrett has dedicated her life to the enrichment of Oklahoma children, both as a teacher and administrator. She has been an outspoken advocate for education reform and school improvement. She has supported many Democratic candidates for local, state and national offices. She was an Oklahoma delegate to the 1980 Democratic National Convention in New York City, the 1984 convention in San Francisco, and the 2000 convention in Los Angeles. Sandy learned public service and the meaning of education from her father, W. H. Langley, who was a Democratic state representative from Adair County and the author of legislation creating the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority (OETA).

Pat Hall
In 1995, Pat Hall became the Chief Executive Officer of the Oklahoma Democratic Party at the request of Senate President Pro Tem Stratton Taylor and Speaker of the House Glenn Johnson. Pat has worked with the Party and with Democratic candidates to define a winning message of people, programs and moral traditions. While leading the Oklahoma Democratic Party, he strived to ensure the ODP remained a "big tent" party of inclusion. During his tenure, Pat built relationships with tribal governments, labor unions and Democrats from every corner of the state as he crissscrossed Oklahoma building the Democratic Party. In 1996 and 2004, he attended the Democratic National Convention. Prior to his ODP service, Pat spent 16 years as the first Executive Director at the Oklahoma Public Employees Association. Pat managed the Citizens for a Healthy Oklahoma (State Question 713) and served as a spokesperson for the Oklahoma lottery campaign (State Question 715) and was part of the leadership team that opposed the right to work campaign (State Question 695) in Oklahoma. Today, Pat is the President of the Capital Group and has managed several Democratic campaigns including Attorney General Drew Edmondson, State Auditor Jeff McMahan, Oklahoma County Commissioner Jim Roth and Oklahoma County Sheriff John Whetsel.