 The highway as originally designated was a split route; its southern section began at SH-34 in Eldorado, and proceeded northeast to end at US-62 west of Altus.Another section of SH-44 began at the route's current southern terminus and ended at SH-41 in Dill (present-day SH-152 in Dill City).A third section of highway began concurrent with SH-33 west of Custer City, and proceeded east through that town through Thomas.