Oklahoma Bar Association

This year is shaping up to be another good one for your Oklahoma Bar Foundation. All indicators are positive. The foundation is financially sound. Revenues are up. The foundation is blessed with outstanding volunteer leaders and capable staff, and all are working hard to support important programs such as High School Mock Trial, Youth Court and other Law-related Education school activities, CASA, CAAVA, Legal Aid Services and other important projects that serve the legal needs of our children, the elderly and indigent across Oklahoma, to name a few.


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What is the OBF? Incorporated in 1949, the OBF is the third-oldest state bar foundation in the United States, an achievement that all Oklahoma attorneys can be proud of. All lawyers duly licensed to practice law in Oklahoma are members, and can become Fellows through annual contributions of $100 over a 10-year period. Pocket change of only $8.33 per month gets it done. These contributions, along with IOLTA revenues, earnings on investments, planned gifts and income from other sources, have enabled the OBF to make grant awards exceeding $6.6 million. Grants this year should top $500,000.

How is all of this possible? It starts with you. If you are already a Fellow, continue your support as a Sustaining Fellow, or better yet, increase your level of giving to become a distinguished Benefactor Fellow. The Benefactor Fellow program was initiated in 2004 under the leadership of then-President Bill LaSorsa of Tulsa and requires tax-deductible contributions of $300 per year.

Where does the money go? You can check it out by visiting the OBF Web site at www.okbar.org/obf. The Web site has not been updated to mention OBF’s newest initiative, a Fellows Scholarship Program for students attending Oklahoma’s three law schools. Beginning in 2007, the foundation will award a total of $15,000 in new scholarship funds to deserving students attending the OU, OCU and TU law schools. Think of it as casting bread on the water — or seed money for future Fellows.

President Mark W. Curnutte is a partner in the firm of Logan & Lowry LLP, which has offices in Vinita and Grove. Mark graduated from the OU College of Law in 1979 and practices primarily in the area of trusts and estates. He has served on the OBF Board of Trustees since 2000. Mark is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.

Renee E. DeMoss, OBF president-elect, has practiced since 1984 with Gable & Gotwals in Tulsa and is presently serving as president of the Tulsa County Bar Association. Renee’s practice areas include business and commercial litigation, insurance law and class action administration. She is a Barrister in the American Inns of Court, Council Oaks Chapter.

Vice President Richard A. Riggs is a shareholder with McAfee & Taft in Oklahoma City. Rick concentrates his practice in real estate and other commercial transactions and is a Fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers. He obtained his law degree, cum laude, from the University of Michigan in 1974.

Phil Frazier, of the firm Frazier & Phillips in Tulsa, serves as secretary/treasurer. Phil is quick on his feet in the courtroom, having lettered in track & field at the University of Oklahoma just a few years ago. Phil’s primary area of practice deals with commercial transactions, contract litigation and municipal law, and his accolades include past president of the Tulsa County Bar Association and a long list of board service to charitable, civic and statewide organizations.

Hal Ellis of the Stillwater firm Ellis & Drummond rounds out the Executive Committee as immediate past president. He practices in the area of trusts and estates and recently served as state chair of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. Hal is also a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.

Attorneys come from all across the state to volunteer their time and talents as Trustees on the board to assist in making proper and informed decisions. The Trustees also serve on a variety of committees that oversee the various aspects of the foundation’s work. In 2007, the attorneys serving with the members of the Executive Committee on the Board of Trustees are Charles F. Alden III, Oklahoma City; Stephen D. Beam, Weatherford; Jack L. Brown, Tulsa; Jon Ed Brown, Idabel; Cathy M. Christensen, Oklahoma City; J. William Conger, Oklahoma City; Judge Valerie Couch, Oklahoma City; Shon T. Erwin, Lawton; William E. Farrior, Tulsa; Kenneth A. Hicks, Wagoner; Steven R. Mackey, Tulsa; A. Edwin McComas, Elk City; John D. Munkacsy Jr., Lawton; Brooke Smith Murphy, Oklahoma City; Judge Millie Otey, Tulsa; David Pomeroy, Oklahoma City; Roger R. Scott, Tulsa; Susan B. Shields, Oklahoma City; Linda S. Thomas, Bartlesville; John Morris Williams, Oklahoma City; and YLD Representative Brett D. Cable, McAlester.

Nancy Norsworthy is the Director of Administrative and IOLTA Programs. She has been with the foundation just over 20 years and it is through the continuing efforts of Nancy and the staff that the foundation is able to function. Nancy is responsible for the myriad of day-to-day activities of the foundation. Members should contact the OBF staff whenever assistance is needed with IOLTA, the Fellows program, grants or other business related to the foundation at (405) 416-7070 or foundation@okbar.org.

Advancing education, citizenship and justice for all is the ongoing mission of your foundation. We invite you to join in our efforts to fulfill this mission by joining with other attorneys across Oklahoma who have chosen to support the ongoing mission. Please take a moment to join with others by completing the following OBF Fellow application and sending it to the OBF office today. Together we can make a difference in Oklahoma – the choice is yours.