THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL 94 | AUGUST 2025 Paul T. Boudreaux of Broken Arrow died May 14. He was born Aug. 20, 1955, in Oklahoma City. He was a multi-letter athlete and an all-city basketball player at Mount St. Mary Catholic High School in Oklahoma City. Mr. Boudreaux graduated from OCU with a bachelor’s degree in 1977, where he was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order. He received his J.D. from the OU College of Law in 1980. He was a trial attorney on the defense side before becoming a plaintiff’s advocate. He focused on the prosecution of medical and dental malpractice and insurance bad faith litigation. John Jay Bowling of Jenks died May 17. He was born March 18, 1970, in Jefferson City, Missouri, and graduated from Purdue University in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and communications. Mr. Bowling received his J.D. from the TU College of Law in 1995. He began his legal career in Tulsa as an associate for Martin & Associates and Best & Sharp. He then worked in-house at The Hanover Insurance Group, where he served as lead trial counsel for Oklahoma claims before becoming the assistant city attorney for Broken Arrow. Mr. Bowling returned to his insurance defense practice by joining Angela Ailes & Associates, where he remained for several years before joining his friends as a partner at the law firm of Aston, Mathis, Campbell. His legal career spanned over 30 years. Earl Calvin Cates Jr. of Phoenix died Oct. 25, 2024. He was born March 3, 1953, in Tulsa. Mr. Cates enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1970 and served as a hospital corpsman. After his honorable release, he earned an associate broker license and joined his father’s brokerage, holding his license in Wyoming for 45 years. He graduated from Utah State University with a bachelor’s degree and received his J.D. from the TU College of Law in 1987. Mr. Cates started his law practice in Sapulpa and served as an attorney advisor in the Social Security Administration Office of Hearings and Appeals in Tulsa and Salt Lake City. He was appointed as a federal administrative law judge by President George W. Bush and worked for the Social Security Administration in Florence, Alabama, and later in Phoenix. He retired from the federal government after nearly 40 years. He was also a member of the Utah State Bar Association and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he served as ward librarian and assistant ward clerk. He was an assistant scoutmaster for several years and joined in many outdoor adventures. Richard H. Champlin of Oklahoma City died April 2. He was born May 12, 1935. He graduated from OU, where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta and the senior class president. Mr. Champlin received his commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Signal Corps and was assigned to the 16th Signal Battalion at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, and Fort Hood, Texas, as a training officer for the 53rd Signal Battalion. He received his J.D. from the OU College of Law in 1961. During law school, he was senior class president and a member of Phi Alpha Delta. His law career began with Leeway Motor Freight, where he retired in 1981 as vice president and general counsel. He joined the Transportation Lawyers Association in 1964, of which he served as president in 1987, and received the Distinguished Service Award in 1994 and the Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996. He later became executive vice president of CL Frates and Co., retiring in 1999. During his time with Frates, he was vice president of BancInsure Inc. Mr. Champlin was a 50-year milestone member of the OBA and a 50-year member of the Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club. His community involvement included serving as vice president and director of the Oklahoma City All Sports Association and as a trustee of the Westminster Presbyterian Church. William Craig Collier of Ardmore died April 14, 2024. He was born June 28, 1953, in Altus. He received his J.D. from the OU College of Law in 1991. Mr. Collier was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints most of his life and served as a clerk for many years with the ward in Mariposa, California. He was also involved with the Boy Scouts of America in California and Oklahoma, serving as a scoutmaster. Mr. Collier volunteered to help with legal issues pro bono and at local soup kitchens. Laura Jean Cooke of Edmond died May 1, 2024. She was born Sept. 24, 1951. Ms. Cook received her J.D. from the OU College of Law in 1985. In Memoriam
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