Volunteers Who Guide Your Association

	Jon Parsley President-Elect Guymon Background: Born and raised in Guymon. Went away for seven years for college and law school. Returned to Guymon to practice law in 1994.  Education: Guymon High School, University of Central Oklahoma, B.A., University of Oklahoma College of Law, J.D.  What was your very first job? My family had a carpet business – so carpet layer’s helper. What station is your radio tuned to?  Blue Collar Radio (Sirius 103)  If you could choose a superpower, what would it be? X-ray vision  Early bird or night owl? Night owl  Who has made the biggest impact on your life? My father. He taught me the value of hard work and honest living.  What would your career be now if you had not become a lawyer?  Probably carpet layer  What famous person would you most like to meet? Albert Einstein What’s your favorite sporting event?  Love to watch college hoops What’s your happiest childhood memory? Trip to California with six kids and mom and dad in one station wagon What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Orange sherbet
	Stephen Beam Past President Weatherford Background: Born in Pampa, Texas; attended Duncan High School Education: Graduated from OSU in 1979 and OU College of Law in 1982 What was your very first job? Picking up dead animals beside the road (an even better job after a long weekend) What radio station is your radio tuned to? Howard 100 If you could choose a superpower, what would it be? Power negation (ability to cancel the superpowers of others) Early bird or night owl? Could be both. Depends on the day (or night). Who has made the biggest impact on your life? My grandmother. She taught me the value of hard work and an education. What would your career be now if you had not become a lawyer? College professor What famous person would you most like to meet? Leonardo da Vinci What is your favorite sporting event? OSU football What is your happiest childhood memory? Traveling with my grandmother
	Mike Mordy Vice President Ardmore Education: Undergraduate degree from the University of Oklahoma, law degree from OCU School of Law What was your first job? I mowed yards when I was 14 years old to earn money. What station is your radio tuned to? Public radio If you could choose a superpower, what would it be? Leap tall buildings in a single bound Who has made the biggest impact on your life? My father. He is clever and has a strong work ethic. What would your career be now if you had not become a lawyer? Rock and roll star What famous person would you most like to meet? Jesus What’s your favorite sporting event? Baseball is my favorite event that I most enjoy watching live. What’s your happiest childhood memory? Getting a pony. My next happiest memory was getting rid of the pony. What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Blue Bell “Moolenium”
	Julie Bates Governor At Large Oklahoma City Background: I was born in England while my father was in the Air Force. I practice law with my husband and best friend, Marty Postic. We are blessed with two wonderful sons, ages 20 and 17. My parents are Hon. Gloria Bates and John T. Bates, and I have a younger brother and younger sister. Education: I graduated from Midwest City High School, Texas Christian University (bachelor’s) and the OU College of Law (J.D.). What was your very first job? Babysitting for 35 cents an hour What station is your radio tuned to? 88.9 FM (contemporary Christian) Early bird or night owl? Both Who has made the biggest impact on your life? My parents, husband, sons and a few close friends. Each of them has impacted my life in many different ways and made me a better person. What would your career be now if you had not become a lawyer? Third baseman for the Yankees What’s your favorite sporting event? Major League Baseball, preferably at a stadium What’s your happiest childhood memory? Learning to ride the pink Schwinn bike I got for my 7th birthday
	Jack Brown Governor At Large Tulsa Education: TU Law; OU undergrad What was your very first job? Golf caddie  What station is your radio tuned to? NPR  If you could choose a superpower, what would it be? The ability to read minds  Early bird or night owl? Night owl  Who has made the biggest impact on your life? Parents, because of their strong value system, character and work ethic What would your career be now if you had not become a lawyer? Broadcast journalist  What famous person would you most like to meet? Benjamin Franklin  What’s your favorite sporting event? College football  What’s your happiest childhood memory? Disney World  What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Peppermint
	Cathy Christensen Governor – District No. Three Oklahoma City Background: Born in Norristown, Penn., moved to Oklahoma during high school, attended OSU, became an Okie. Education: OSU and OCU School of Law What station is your radio tuned to? 640 AM The Sports Animal, or any channel with “elevator music” If you could choose a superpower, what would it be?  I’d like the power to be invisible. Early bird or night owl? A little bit of both – but not during the same 24-hour period! Who has made the biggest impact on your life? Two people have greatly impacted my life and I am unable to select just one. My mother was my role model in so many ways. She is an integral part of who I am today. My husband has greatly impacted my life since we first met. He is invaluable to me.  What would your career be now if you had not become a lawyer? I most likely would have attended medical school. What famous person would you most like to meet? Saint Catherine Drexel from Philadephia What’s your favorite sporting event? My most favorite sporting events are those in which any one of my sons are participating. What’s your happiest childhood memory? Spending family vacations at the shore in Ocean City, N.J. What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Vanilla
	Donna Dirickson Governor – District No. Four Weatherford Background: Born in San Diego, Calif., while my father was in the Navy; attended and graduated from Weatherford High School; Duncan & Dirickson, partner, March 1999 to present; assistant district attorney, Custer County, from 1996 through 1999. Education: Graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 1993 and OCU School of Law in 1996 What was your very first job? I worked in a shoe store while in high school. What station is your radio tuned to? Radio Disney if my 5-year-old daughter is with me, otherwise in the car and at home usually a classic rock station. If you could choose a superpower, what would it be? Mind reader Early bird or night owl? I’m an early bird. Who has made the biggest impact on your life? Personally, my parents because they instilled in me a sense of honesty and compassion for others. Professionally, John W. Donley, who is an attorney in Weatherford. I started working for him as a secretary while in college and watching him help people while being so respectful of them, the attorneys involved and the justice system as a whole, inspired me to become an attorney. What would your career be now if you had not become a lawyer? Probably administration in the medical field. What famous person would you most like to meet? Margaret Thatcher What is your favorite sporting event? Football on TV What’s your happiest childhood memory? Vacation in Florida at the beach What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Chocolate
	Bob Farris Governor – District No. Six Tulsa Background: Lifelong Tulsa resident; married to Pam, my high school sweetheart and the love of my life; father of Nic and Matt; father-in-law of Kirstin and Stephanie; grandfather of Jakob and Payton. Education: Edison High School; B.S. in mechanical engineering from TU in 1972; J.D. from the TU College of Law in 1975 What was your very first job? Laborer for a brick-laying crew that specialized in tall chimneys (I carried the bricks up the scaffold to the brick-layers) What station is your radio tuned to? KWGS (NPR at University of Tulsa) If you could choose a superpower, what would it be? Flying Early bird or night owl? Definitely night owl Who has made the biggest impact on your life? My parents. My dad for the example he set for integrity, dedication and hard work and my mother because she has always believed in me, even to this day. What would your career be now if you had not become a lawyer? Doing something with my hands What famous person would you most like to meet? Jesus Christ What’s your favorite sporting event? World Cup soccer tournament (I would love to attend one in person) What’s your happiest childhood memory? Swinging from a tree on a rope swing What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Vanilla
	Brian Hermanson Governor – District No. One Ponca City Background: Born in Milwaukee and raised in Green Bay, Wis. I moved to Oklahoma in 1975 to attend law school and decided that this is where I wanted to make my home. Education: B.A. from Carroll College (Wisconsin) and J.D. OU College of Law What was your very first job? I was a busboy at a Supper Club. What station is your radio tuned to? In my car it is turned to a country and western station. I don’t listen to the radio at home. If you could choose a superpower, what would it be? The ability to fly would be cool. I remember as a child tying a beach towel around my neck as a cape and trying to fly on a windy day. Unfortunately, it did not work. Early bird or night owl? Both Who has made the biggest impact on your life? Wow. I don’t know how to answer that one. So many people have had huge impacts on my life – from family to friends to teachers to people in the church. I would have a great deal of difficulty to giving one name. What would your career be now if you had not become a lawyer? I would probably be a college history or political science professor. What famous person would you most like to meet? If I could go back in time and meet any person, I would have to say that I would like to meet Jesus. What’s your favorite sporting event? In a broad sense, it would have to be football. More specifically, I would say either the Packers or the Sooner football teams. What’s your happiest childhood memory? I think it was the camping trips I would take with my family or with my scout troop. What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? If I am just going to have a scoop of ice cream it will almost always be vanilla.
	Mark Hixson Governor – District No. Nine Yukon Background: Born and raised in Oklahoma City, interned in Canadian County and fell in love with the area. Married the beautiful Shaa Hixson and have three sons: Will, 8; Auguste, 5; and Alec, 10 weeks. My house and office are located in Yukon. Education: Catholic parochial school brat; Bishop McGuinness High School; Conception Seminary College, Conception, Mo., B.A.; and the University of Oklahoma, J.D. What was your very first job? I was a summer camp counselor at Slippery Falls Boy Scout Ranch near Tishamingo when I was 16. I was the instructor for cooking, camping, first aid and wilderness survival. I lived out of a tent for about nine weeks and was paid an incredible $40 a week. What station is your radio tuned to? In my car I take advantage of my six preprogramed stations (all rock), and at home I rarely listen to the radio and my wife controls the stations. If you could choose a superpower, what would it be? Mind control. I believe it would be interesting to see how other people think and toy with their thoughts. Early bird or night owl? Night owl – it is when the best old black and white movies are on TV. Who has made the biggest impact on your life?  My father. My father was raised poor in Edmond, when Edmond was small and poor. He has worked hard his entire life. He sacrificed to send his three children to private grade school and high school. He put all three of us through college and helped me through law school. He was my coach and scout master. He did all this as a master sergeant in the Oklahoma Air National Guard. To this day he has never even hinted that my sibling or I owe him anything. To this day he remains a loving husband and father. All my better attributes come from him. What would your career be now if you had not become a lawyer? I would likely be a pilot or a psychologist. What famous person would you most like to meet? At the risk of sounding like a religious nut, Jesus. Putting aside His divinity, no one has influenced world history more than Him. What’s your favorite sporting event? OU football on TV, and major league baseball live What’s your happiest childhood memory? Spending time at my paternal grandfather’s house. My grandfather lived on an acreage in Edmond. He had a tractor, chickens, ducks, rabbits, a pony, a horse and a large garden. My brother, sister and I rode minibikes for hours. My grandmother was an excellent cook. What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Chocolate, there is no substitute.
	Jerry McCombs Governor – District No. Two Idabel Background: I was born and raised in Idabel, graduating high school there in 1962. Education: After college attendance at several state schools, I received my B.A. in English from Central State University and my law degree from Oklahoma City University in 1975. What was your very first job? Part-time filling station attendant from the time I was in eighth grade until I graduated with a short timeout as a sack boy at the local Piggly Wiggly grocery store. What station is your radio tuned to? Air America on XM satellite radio If you could choose a superpower, what would it be? Mental telepathy Early bird or night owl? I was a night owl until about 1993, thereafter an early bird. Who has made the biggest impact on your life? I can honestly say my wife who worked 33 years as a teacher – mostly in the field of special education. Without her help and support, I would probably have never made it through law school, not to mention the lean early years of practice. What would your career be now if you had not become a lawyer? Probably a heavy equipment operator on a pipeline somewhere in the world. What famous person would you most like to meet? President John Fitzgerald Kennedy What’s your favorite sporting event? Sooner football What’s your happiest childhood memory? Christmas gift of a Red Ryder BB Gun (and nobody saying no “because you will shoot your eye out”!) What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Vanilla (with chocolate syrup)
	Deborah Reheard Governor – At Large Eufaula Background: Raised on a dairy farm near Vinita; first career was as a newspaper editor in Vinita, Sand Springs and Broken Arrow Education: Undergrad – OSU and NSU; J.D. – TU What station is your radio tuned to? 87.7 CBS on the Radio If you could choose a superpower, what would it be? Telepathy Early bird or night owl? Early bird Who has made the biggest impact on your life? My elementary school teacher, Mrs. Ortlieb. She encouraged me to read and study the lessons of the higher grades in our two-room school, and she gave me my public speaking debut with the lead role in the Christmas play. What would your career be now if you had not become a lawyer? Something in the media, probably a newspaper editor. What famous person would you most like to meet? Will Rogers What’s your favorite sporting event? Reining, cutting and working cowhorse events, NASCAR What’s your happiest childhood memory? Riding the tractor with my dad What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Blue Bell Moo-llennium Crunch
	Alan Souter Governor – District No. Seven Bristow Background: Born in Oklahoma City, 1967; grew up in Edmond; married to Kim Hays, a lawyer in Tulsa; two amazing children – Noelle, 8 and Parker, 4. Education: B.S. in economics, Oklahoma State University, 1989; J.D., University of Kansas, 1993. If you could choose a superpower, what would it be? Ability to breathe underwater Early bird or night owl? Night owl Who has made the biggest impact on your life? My children What would your career be now if you had not become a lawyer? Mortgage broker   What famous person would you most like to meet? Benjamin Franklin What’s your favorite sporting event? College basketball (Rock Chalk, Jayhawk!) What’s your happiest childhood memory? Hunting and fishing with dad What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Cappuccino Chunky Chocolate at Braum’s
	Peggy Stockwell Governor – District No. Five Norman Background: I was born in Oklahoma City; moved to Norman at age 5; been here ever since. Education: B.A. OU 1978; J.D. OU 1983 What station is your radio tuned to? KGOU (NPR). If you could choose a superpower, what would it be? Flying Early bird or night owl? Neither Who has made the biggest impact on your life? My father. He taught me how to be a lawyer. What would your career be now if you had not become a lawyer? I don’t know. What famous person would you most like to meet? Paul McCartney What’s your favorite sporting event? World Series. Live. What’s your happiest childhood memory? Going with my mother and brother to pick out our first pets. We got two cats. I was in the first grade. What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Chocolate chip
	Jim Stuart Governor – District No. Eight Shawnee Background: Lifetime Shawnee resident; wife Kathy (parent educator with Shawnee Public Schools), and three daughters, Emily (teacher in Dallas), Rachel (junior at UCO) and Sarah (freshman at OU). Education: Shawnee High School-1971; B.B.A. Central State University-1975; J.D. University of Tulsa-1978 What was your very first job? Newspaper carrier – Shawnee News-Star What station is your radio tuned to? Car: XM 46-early classic rock; Home: A.M. 640- The Sports Animal If you could choose a superpower, what would it be? To be invisible Early bird or night owl? Both Who has made the biggest impact on your life? My wife, Kathy; we’ve been married 30 years, she’s my best friend, supporter and soul mate. What would your career be now if you had not become a lawyer? Secondary school teacher What famous person would you most like to meet? Confederate General J. E. B. Stuart What’s your favorite sporting event? Live and T.V. – college football What’s your happiest childhood memory? Watching Saturday afternoon major league baseball with my father (complete with Dizzy Dean and PeeWee Reese, Jax beer, sardines, and cheese and crackers). What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Banana nut
	Kimberly Warren Governor – YLD Chair Tecumseh Background: Born and raised in Shawnee/Bethel Acres.  Married my high school sweetheart Darren, with whom I have two wonderful children: Blaine age 16 and Kelsey age 14. Attended college in Tulsa and law school in Columbus, Ohio.  Returned back home in 2000. Education: B.A. in political science and economics from TU in 1990; M.B.A., J.D. and LL.M. in taxation from Capital University in 1998. What was your very first job? Wendy’s at age 16 What station is your radio tuned to? It depends on my mood.  I frequently channel surf, but primarily I listen to 96.9 FM (classic rock) or K-Love (contemporary Christian). If you could choose a superpower, what would it be? Super-speed, the ability to get everything done within a matter of seconds Early bird or night owl? Neither, I like my sleep  Who has made the biggest impact on your life? My husband – if it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be where I am today. What would your career be now if you had not become a lawyer? I actually practice accounting. If I wasn’t an accountant I would be an investment banker, engineer or writer. What famous person would you most like to meet? Jesus Christ What’s your favorite sporting event? Football What’s your happiest childhood memory? Making mud pies What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Butter pecan
Volunteers Who Guide Your Association Published 79 OBJ 11 (January 12, 2008)