Veteran. Business Owner.
Community Builder. Proud Oklahoman.

Hello,
I'm Jim Neal

a third-generation Oklahoman, born in Guthrie and raised in the close-knit community of Crescent. After graduating from Ringling High School in 1985, I gave college a try, but soon realized I was ready for a different path. I enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where I proudly served aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt as a Damage Controlman and Hull Technician. Our mission was simple but vital: keeping our ship and our crew safe — mostly through firefighting.

After my service, I entered the private sector. In 1998, my daughter Miranda was born — and like many working parents, I juggled long hours, bills, and responsibilities. At 31, with a new house and a car, I still couldn’t make ends meet. So I started mowing lawns around the neighborhood. That small side hustle quickly grew into a weed control service — which eventually became a full-fledged pest and termite control business that I still own and operate today.

As Miranda grew, I wanted her to have the same kind of small-town school experience that shaped me — where teachers know your name, families know each other, and the community cares. I bought a farm and started a part-time cow-calf operation with 31 mama cows, a bull, and a haying setup to support the herd. A few years later, I sold the cattle and some of the land so I could spend more time with my daughter. Those years were filled with weekend museum visits, trying new cuisines, lake days with friends — and memories I’ll always cherish.

Father. Son. Veteran. Business Owner. Farmer. Public Servant.

Serving Crescent —
and Building Something Better

My path into public service started with a simple question: Would you be willing to serve on the city council? I said yes — and it changed everything. Crescent was struggling when I joined. But thanks to a great team, strong leadership, and a shared commitment to improvement, we turned the corner. Together, we hired a transformative city manager and went to work rebuilding our hometown.

Our accomplishments as a council team include:

Revitalizing Main Street — now nearly fully occupied
Installing a splash pad, new restrooms, and playground equipment at the city park
Overhauling our water and wastewater systems
Saving Crescent’s historic water tower
Resurfacing and paving more than half of our city streets
Adding automatic water meters, new fire hydrants, and safe school routes
Establishing a public library, basketball courts, and a community farmers market
Saving our Fourth of July celebration during the height of COVID
Crescent is thriving again — and I’m proud to have played a part in its comeback. But none of it happened alone. It took a team.

Ready to Serve Oklahoma House District 38

I recently stepped down from the city council because I believe I can make a bigger difference. That’s why I’m running for State Representative in District 38.

Every chapter of my life — from the Navy to business ownership, from raising a family to revitalizing a town — has prepared me for this moment. I understand the challenges our communities face because I’ve lived them. I’ve served my country, built a business from the ground up, and helped rebuild a small town that now has a bright future.

Now, I want to bring that same grit, vision, and teamwork to the State Capitol.