Cleatus Gene Whisnant (born December 8, 1943) is a Republican politician from the US state of Oregon.

Whisnant was born Cleatus Gene Whisnant in North Carolina,[1] and attended West Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte, later graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1966 with a bachelor's degree in journalism.

[2][3][4][self-published source] Following his retirement from the military, Whisnant moved to Oregon and became involved in politics in Deschutes County, serving as the treasurer and later chairman of the Deschutes County Republican Party.

[6] Whisnant is a member of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), serving as Oregon state leader.

His support and advocacy in animal-related measures saw him labeled as a 2011 "Top Dog" by the Oregon Humane Society.