Paul Wesselhöft's Biography

 

Retired U.S. Army Chaplain: Served 18 years in the U.S. Army, 16 as a Chaplain. Retired on the voluntary early retirement program, December 1995 as a Major.

Employer: State Representative, Oklahoma House of Representatives, District 54: Moore & OKC. 50th & 51st Oklahoma Legislature: The Capital, Room 329, 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd. Oklahoma City, OK 73105-4885 (405) 557-7343 Email: paulw4rep@hotmail.com

Committees (51st Legislature) Chairman of Industry & Labor Subcommittee; Member of Economic Development & Financial Services Standing Committee;
Energy Subcommittee; Veterans & Military Affairs Subcommittee (50th & 51st Legislature).
Vice-Chairman of Joint (House/Senate) Committee on Tribal Relations
Member of …

(50th Legislature) Vice-Chairman of Government Reform, Agency Oversight & Administrative Rules.
Member of Tourism & Recreation; and Aerospace & Technology. Founding Member of (the 18 member) Native American Caucus (50th & 51st Legislature)

Former Employers: (1.) State Coordinator, The Abstinence Education Project.
Oklahoma State Department of Health.  1000 NE 10th Street. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73117
Member, The Governor’s Interagency Coordinating Council for Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Diseases.

(2.) The Administrative Assistant and Office Manager for Oklahoman’s for Children and Families.  OCAF is a non-profit organization fighting to reduce sexual violence, victimization of women and child pornography by eliminating illegal pornography and regulating sexual businesses.

Boards: Former Chairman, legislative Issues: Ethics and Religious Liberty Committee of the Oklahoma Baptist General Conference.
Former Director of the Board and Chairman, Oklahoman’s for Integrity in Government.  OIG is a bipartisan group of conservative citizens working for a just and moral government.
Former Member: Oklahoma State Abstinence Advisory Council (SAAC).
Former President:  Bradford Court Neighborhood Association.
Member: Executive Committee, Cleveland County Republican Party since 1996; and Former Chairman of Precinct Thirty-seven.

Publications: Numerous articles, essays, poems and short stories to include Distorted Image about women and pornography and Snake Eyes about statewide gambling.  Won the critiques choice for best short story and poem in Oklahoma Community College’s Absolute magazine.
Published in various state and local newspapers and magazines. Many news stories, articles and interviews in published virtually in every newspaper throughout Oklahoma.

Birth: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  August 16, 1947.  Fifth generation Oklahoman. Part German & Potawatomi Indian.

Family: Married 32 years to the former Judy Albright of Pauls Valley, Oklahoma (3-21-1976). Children: Justin J. Wesselhöft (8-18-1982) and Holly Dei Wesselhöft (10-31-1985).

Church and Ordination: Member and Ordained Minister of the First Southern Baptist Church, Del City. First ordination: June 17, 1979; Congregational Christian Churches (Congregationalist).

Civilian Education:
Graduate: U.S. Grant High School, Oklahoma City (1966).
Honors in Speech, Drama and Debate.
Bachelor of Arts in Speech and Drama. Minors in Psychology, Sociology and Religion.
University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, Oklahoma (1972).
Masters of Arts in Religion. Southern Nazarene University. Bethany, Oklahoma (1976).
Master of Divinity. Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
South Hamilton, Massachusetts (1976).
Graduate work in Public Administration.
University of Oklahoma. Norman, Oklahoma (1981-1982).
Graduate: Emergency Medical Technician Course (EMT). Savannah, Georgia (1985).
Doctor of Ministry Candidate. San Francisco Theological Seminary.
San Anselmo, California (1991-1995).

Military Education:
 Basic Infantry Training. Fort Bliss, Texas (1967).
Radio Relay and Carrier Attendant and Tactical Circuit Controller. Fort Gordon, Georgia (1967).
7 TH U.S. Army Non-Commission Officer’s Academy. Bad Tolz, Germany (1968).
U.S. Army Chaplain Officer’s School. Fort Momouth, New Jersey (1979).
Clinical Pastoral Education. Fort Sill, Oklahoma (1981).
U.S. Army Chaplain Officer’s Advanced School. Fort Monmouth, New Jersey (1984).
U.S. Army Airborne Jump School. Fort Benning, Georgia (1984).
Ranger Indoctrination Program. Hunter Army Air Field. Savannah, Georgia (1984).
U.S. Army Combined Arms and Service Staff School. Fort Leavenworth, Kansas (1988).
Courses at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.
Fort Leavenworth, Kansas (1989-1991).

Two of Eight Previous Officer Assignments:
1 ST Battalion. 75 TH Infantry (U.S. Airborne Ranger). Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, Georgia. Associate Pastor of Hunter Army Airfield Chapel (1984-1986).
22 ND Area Support Group in Vicenza, Italy. Pastor of the Community and the Community Chapel. Associate pastor of the Verona Community Chapel (1993-1995).
Also served nine years at Fort Sill.

Military Medals: National Defense Medal (Vietnam Era), Good Conduct Medal (Vietnam Era), the Saint Barbara Artillery Medal (Ancient Order), The Armed Forces Reserve Medal, The South West Asia Service Medal, The Army Commendation Medal with Third Oak leaf Cluster and The Meritorious Service Medal with Third Oak Leaf Cluster.

Persian Gulf War: Veteran of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. Directly involved in the front line ground offensive and the liberation of Kuwait (1990-1991).  Served as the 75 TH Field Artillery Brigade Chaplain and Supervisor of four battalion chaplains.

Special Projects: Organized and directed several post and city wide Holocaust Commemoration Services, Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebrations, National Prayer Breakfast’s, Marriage and Singles Retreats, play productions, Gospel concerts, and Christmas Food Baskets for the needy.
Responsible for the Army clearing several acres of land to be developed for Habitat for Humanity in order to build many low cost houses for the needy.
Organized and Personally delivered several tons of donated food, blankets, clothing, toys and goods to a Bosnian refugee camp in Croatia.
Conducted multiple workshops and seminars on Leadership, Personal and Social Ethics, Racism, Combat Ethics, Battle Fatigue, Parenting Skills, Counseling Skills, Stress Management, Conflict Resolution, Cross Cultural Premarital Preparation, Sexual Harassment, Rape Prevention and Suicide Intervention.
Candidate for the Oklahoma State Senate, District 45.  Qualified for the Run Off but not elected. 
Organized and directed an Oklahoma City petition drive to cancel a Marilyn Manson concert for children.  Obtained over 20,000 signatures in ten days.  Convinced the City Council to pass a resolution to cancel the concert but state fair commissioners refused to cancel.
Help to organize and personally registered over 300 people for the first State of Oklahoma Governor’s Conference on Abstinence Education.

Interest and Travel: U.S. Government, teaching ethics and leadership, drama, acting, poetry, O.U. Football, motor cycling, sailing, water skiing, parakiting, chess, The Stock Market (when it’s up!).  Travel:  Residence, combat duty, temporary duty, deployments, leaves or vacations in 40 states and 25 countries.