Robert L. Haught is a former UPI correspondent who worked on a governor’s staff before going to Washington as a top aide to two U.S. senators.

            In 1987, Haught became the first Washington-based editorial writer for the Daily Oklahoman.  In addition to writing editorials on national and international topics, he originated a weekly column, “Potomac Junction”, a commentary on events and personalities in the nation’s capital.  Haught retired as senior editorial writer in 1995 but continues to produce the column, which runs on the newspaper’s op-ed page. .  In 2003, he began writing a second column, “Now I’m No Expert”, which is self-syndicated.

            A longtime member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, Haught now serves as secretary and member of the NSNC executive board.  He is responsible for creation of the Will Rogers Humanitarian Award, presented annually to a columnist whose work best exemplifies the ideals of Oklahoma’s beloved cowboy-philosopher.  He also is a member of the National Conference of Editorial Writers.

            Haught is a veteran of the Korean War, having served as an enlisted man with the 45^th Infantry Division.  He is an active elder in the Presbyterian Church.

            He and his wife, Mary, live on a 40-acre farm in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia.