Representative Terry O'Donnell is a respected attorney and community leader who has earned a reputation for getting results for people and businesses. Terry has practiced law for over thirty years and earned preeminent ratings from his peers for his legal skills and ethics. He knows what it is to help businesses create jobs, protect those jobs and has also given back to his community.
After serving on his local Planning and Zoning Board, Terry was successful in his first political race for the State House of Representatives in 2012. A lifelong conservative Republican, Terry represents District 23 which encompasses all of Catoosa, Verdigris and parts of East Tulsa.
Terry was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma where he grew up playing sports and participating in the Boys Scouts of America. In 1976, Terry earned his Eagle Scout Award. After graduating from Memorial High School in Tulsa, Terry attended Baylor University graduating in 1986 and Tulsa College of Law earning his Juris Doctorate in 1989.
Terry's leadership skills were recognized early by House Leadership, serving as vice chair for the General Government, Judiciary, and Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee's during his first two terms. After his first four years in the House, Terry was selected for senior leadership in the House serving as chair of the Energy and Environment Committee, House Majority Whip and was then elected as Speaker Pro Tempore by his colleagues in the House in 2020.
During Terry's tenure in the House, he has worked solely for the improvement of Oklahoma. In 2015, he served on the Governor's Task Force for Criminal Justice Reform and has been recognized for his work in promoting small business (FGA Champion of Free Enterprise, 2018; Guardian of Small Business, 2020; and Guardian of Free Enterprise, 2020), protecting Oklahoma's energy producers (NGV America Award, 2019; Clean Cities Award, 2018), strong advocacy for the Second Amendment (OK2A Award, 2021) and fighting against unnecessary taxes, fees and costs imposed upon Oklahomans (House Freedom Index Award, 2020).
A devoted father and husband, Terry has two grown daughters. He and his wife, Teresa, live in her hometown of Catoosa where she is a community leader and small business owner.