Thank you.

President Ronald Reagan once said that “there are no great limits to growth, because there are no limits of human intelligence, imagination and wonder.”

He believed, like I believe—like Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan believe—that the potential for America is limitless.

We can – and we will – overcome any economic challenge IF government lets go of the regulatory chokehold zapping the air out of the economy and deflating the spirits of our entrepreneurs.

We need a president who will applaud and encourage those who work hard to pursue their dreams … to reach their potential … and, in doing so, make themselves and America better and stronger.

That man is Mitt Romney.

The history of my state of Oklahoma offers a great example of pursuing the American Dream. It was built and settled by pioneers moving West to seek better lives.

During the great the Land Run of 1889, thousands of families rushed to put a stake down on empty plots of land. They built tent cities overnight, they farmed the land and they worked hard. And in 1897, eight years after the Land Run, a handful of adventurous pioneers risked their own money – NOT, the federal government’s – to drill Oklahoma’s first oil well, the Nellie Johnstone.

By doing so, these early-day pioneers changed the future and the fortune of Oklahoma forever, and today Oklahoma is one of the nation’s key energy producers and job creators.

President Obama wants us to believe that Oklahomans owe that success to the federal government: to the Department of Energy, to the EPA, the IRS or maybe even to him.

Mr. President, we know better … as we say in Oklahoma, that dog won’t hunt.

We owe these remarkable successes to the imagination and ingenuity of people like my friend, Oklahoman Harold Hamm. The son of sharecroppers, and the youngest of 13 children, Harold grew up in the small town of Lexington, Oklahoma.

As a child, he helped out on the farm and went to school only after the first freeze or Christmas. While attending high school, he worked for a dollar an hour at a gas station. After high school, Harold took a job cleaning out oil barrels.

At the age of 20, he bought his own truck and began a one man oil field service business. He made enough money to begin taking college level classes in geology and mineralogy. At 26 years old, he drilled a wildcat well that produced 75 barrels of oil an hour … we call that a gusher.

Today, Harold Hamm is the Chairman and CEO of Oklahoma’s own Continental Resources, a top ten U.S. producer of petroleum liquids with nearly 700 employees operating in 10 states and valued at over $13 billion.

Now Harold and his company are helping to power cars, homes and businesses across the nation. Harold and other energy entrepreneurs have completely transformed the U.S.’s energy outlook. And with a President Romney, we’ll reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil even further and create even more American jobs.

Harold’ success story is not one-of-a-kind; it is an American dream that has been realized by countless men and women since the founding of this country. He is just one of the many visionaries and innovators in the private sector that are the true drivers of economic growth and job creation.

And that’s where President Obama just doesn’t get it. He’ll tell you that “If you’ve got a business ‘you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen.’” Well, Mr. President … like who? The IRS? The EPA? Or the federal government?

The president believes that government is responsible for our successes and that’s why his solution to everything is more government, bigger spending, more regulation, and more bureaucratic programs like ObamaCare.

He says his plans are working, but look at the results:
• 42 straight months of unemployment over 8%.
• 23 Million Americans out of work, underemployed, or no longer looking for work
• A nation threatened by nearly $16 trillion of debt

Families feeling pinched not just by a bad economy, but by a President who promised hope and change and left many Americans with no hope and just change in their pockets. President Obama believes the power of a Big Government is the key to American success.

Mitt Romney believes in the power of the people. Mitt Romney understands that free enterprise and hard work — not government handouts — have made the United States the envy of the world.
And the selection of Paul Ryan to be his running mate is an excellent choice. There are many reasons that Congressman Ryan will be an great Vice-President . . . not the least of which is his wife is from Oklahoma . . . and their two dogs are named Boomer and Sooner—after the Land Run Oklahomans!
They will reverse the tide of decline and promote economic security. They know it is hardworking American families, not a federal bureaucracy that has built our great and glorious nation. Mitt Romney is ready to lead. He has the experience and the vision we need to restore America’s economy and its greatness. I am proud to support his candidacy for president, and as the next leader of the Free World he will make us proud.

Thank you.

Gov. Mary Fallin Gives the Roll Call at GOP Convention

Here it is, in rough form:
“A state that believes in faith, family and freedom, a state that has one of the strongest economies in the United States and an unemployment rate of 4.9 percent, a state that in the heartland and is the home of Janna Little Ryan. It’s also the state that is the reddest state in the nation where Barack Obama lost every single county.”
She then cast 34 of Oklahoma’s delegate votes to GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney and 6 for Rep. Ron Paul, who ran unsuccessfully for president.

“Having worked with Paul Ryan in Congress, I know he is a smart, committed advocate for the kind of small government, pro-growth policies that are going to create more jobs and get this country back on track. He’s also a genuinely nice person with a great family and a wonderful wife from Madill, Oklahoma. He will make a great running mate, and continue to be an effective voice for the principles of limited government and free markets that make America great. I applaud Mitt Romney for selecting Paul, and I look forward to doing everything I can to support the Romney/Ryan ticket.”

“Andrea and I are excited for Paul and Janna. Janna and I grew up together and I couldn’t be more proud of my cousin. Like my late mother after whom she is named, Janna is a wonderful parent to their children and will be Paul’s strongest supporter on the campaign trail. Paul has a firm moral compass and has always approached his job as a congressman with diligence and honesty. Having many friends on both sides of the aisle, he is an effective and talented leader. Although we belong in different political parties, I see Paul as a friend, a fellow hunter, and most importantly a family man.”

1970s State Politician Buried

Saturday, December 4, 1993

Funeral services for Reuel W. Little, a Madill lawyer and rancher who played a major role in the formation of a third political party in Oklahoma in the 1960s, were Friday in Madill.

Little, 92, who was the American Party’s candidate for governor in 1970, died Wednesday.

In 1967, Little and a group began planning for the formation of a third political party to push the candidacy of former Alabama Gov. George Wallace for president.

The group, like many in other states, formed the American Party and made Wallace its presidential candidate.

Here is the obituary that the family wrote when Prudence Little died in 2010.

Prudence Mae (Petersen) Little died on the 22nd day of May, 2010 at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX. Prudence was born November 16, 1942, the first child of Dr. Vernon Petersen, M.D., from Manning, Iowa, and Adelaide Vaala Petersen from Saude and New Hampton, Iowa. Prudence is survived by husband, Dan Vincent Little; and their daughters: Janna Christine (Little) Ryan and husband Paul Ryan, Dana Suzanne (Little) Jackson and husband William Jackson, Mary Catherine “Molly” (Little) Olcott and husband Mark Olcott; grandchildren: Elizabeth Anne “Liza” Ryan, Charles Wilson Ryan, Samuel Lowery Ryan, William Covington “Cov” Jackson, Jr., Amelia Prudence “Ellie” Jackson, Zachary Gardner Jackson, Aidan Frederick Olcott, Mary Sophia Olcott and Daniel Douglas Olcott; brother, Paul Petersen and wife Katie Wilson; mother-in-law, Oteka D. Little; brother-in-law, Jack Little; sister-in law, Oteka Ann Ball and husband Jerry Ball; brother-in-law, John Robbins and wife Lana; and nephews and nieces: Jeremy Ball, Oteka Lynn Bernard, Carrie Boren and Dan Boren.

Prudence grew up in Clinton, Iowa, graduating from Clinton High School with honors. With the encouragement of Aunt Gertrude Vaala, Prudence made the fateful decision to attend Wellesley College near Boston, Massachusetts, from which she graduated with honors in economics in 1965. After graduation, on June 12, 1965, Prudence married her college sweetheart, Dan, and returned with him to attend the University of Oklahoma College of Law. Prudence graduated first in the Class of 1968, achieving numerous academic honors. After working the first year in Oklahoma City for Attorney General G.T. Blankenship, during which she wrote the legal opinion which became part of the movie, “Believe in Me,” Prudence returned with Dan to his hometown of Madill to practice law and to rear their three daughters, Janna, Dana and Molly.

In the early years, Prudence immersed herself in Madill community activities, including the Madill United Methodist Church, the building of the Fran Drummond Day Care Center, the expansion of the Madill City Library, Madill Daughters, Camp Fire and 4-H, serving on many different boards and committees and being selected Marshall County Citizen of the Year, 1985, all while practicing law and earning the highest respect of the judges and her fellow lawyers for her legal brilliance and the deep appreciation of her clients for her guidance, patience, caring and kindness.

In the later years, Prudence was appointed by Governor Henry Bellmon as a founding member of the first Oklahoma Ethics Commission, providing vital legal guidance through the first Court challenges and political controversies and to the Oklahoma Council of Campaign Compliance and Ethical Standards. Beginning in 1992, Prudence served on the University of Oklahoma Foundation. During her three years as Chairman, Prudence provided skillful leadership in reorganizing and reforming the Foundation during challenging times of transition. Prudence also served as board member for the Oklahoma Council on Research and Graduate Education; the Women’s Foundation of Oklahoma; the Oklahoma Arts Institute; the Wellesley College Club of Dallas; St. Mark’s School, Southborough, Massachusetts; and the University of Oklahoma College of Fine Arts Board of Visitors and University of Oklahoma Alumni Association.

Thirty-five years ago, the week before Molly was born, Prudence was diagnosed with advanced melanoma cancer; twelve years ago with advanced breast cancer; six years ago with ovarian cancer; and six months ago with advanced melanoma cancer again. In fighting and winning so many battles with constant courage, peace and calmness, it was Prudence who provided the love, support, strength and inspiration to Dan, their family and friends. During the last twelve years under the magnificent care of Dr. Robert Bast at M.D. Anderson and wonderful care of Dr. Joe Potter in Madill, Prudence had the great joys of seeing her daughters married and welcoming to the world nine grandchildren as their “Nini.”