An American Politician’s Bold South American Experiment

William H. “Alfalfa Bill” Murray stands as one of the most dynamic and controversial figures in Oklahoma’s political history. Present at the birth of statehood as President of the Oklahoma Constitutional Convention and later serving as the first Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, Murray’s early career placed him at the center of shaping a new state. Yet political setbacks and personal discouragement led him to an unexpected turning point. In 1919, Murray stepped away from politics and pursued a life-long fascination with South America. Over the next decade, he organized and promoted three American agricultural colonies in the remote El Gran Chaco region of southern Bolivia, seeking opportunity, reinvention, and influence far beyond Oklahoma’s borders. In Murray Colonies in Bolivia, historian W. Edward Rolison uncovers this little-known international chapter and evaluates its broader consequences. Through careful research and historical insight, Rolison reveals how Murray’s ambitious venture intersected with Bolivian colonization policy and agricultural reform, creating a surprising link between the histories of Oklahoma and Bolivia. The result is a compelling examination of political resilience, transnational ambition, and the lasting imprint of one man’s bold experiment abroad.

W. Edward Rolison is an award-winning historian and Professor Emeritus, as well as former Head of the Social Sciences Department at Southwestern Oklahoma State University at Weatherford. During his thirty-five-year academic career, he taught political science, history, and criminal justice, shaping generations of students through his scholarship and leadership. Rolison's most recent publication, with co-author Carol Duncan, is Route 66 and the Story of Sam Hawks: Pioneer, Entrepreneur, Politician (2025). His work reflects a deep commitment to uncovering overlooked chapters of regional and international history, bringing clarity and perspective to stories that connect local events with global significance.