FEBRUARY 2026 | 73 THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL Donald L. McCorkell Jr. of Aliso Viejo, California, died March 25, 2025. He was born June 28, 1947, in Baltimore. Mr. McCorkell lived in Tulsa for most of his life before relocating to California. He graduated from TU with a bachelor’s degree in political science and received his J.D. from the TU College of Law. Mr. McCorkell represented Tulsa’s 72nd District in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1979 to 1996. During his 17-year tenure, he became known for his commitment to economic development, public education and bipartisan cooperation. In 1996, he stepped down from the Legislature to run for the U.S. Senate, and a decade later, he ran for mayor of Tulsa. After his political career, he focused on environmental documentary filmmaking and was passionate about literature and storytelling. Judge James Hardy Payne of Tulsa died Dec. 2, 2025. He was born March 3, 1941, in Lubbock, Texas. He graduated from high school in Stamford, Texas, in 1959. Judge Payne received a football scholarship from OU, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1963. He received his J.D. from the OU College of Law in 1966, and during law school, he served as a graduate assistant coach for the OU football team. Between 1966 and 1970, he served as a judge advocate general officer in the U.S. Air Force with Strategic Air Command at Columbus Air Force Base in Columbus, Mississippi. He served a temporary duty assignment at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam and was discharged from active duty in 1970. Judge Payne moved to Oklahoma in 1970 and served as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma in Muskogee. He briefly worked in private practice in Muskogee while serving as a U.S. magistrate judge for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. He resumed his Air Force service as a reserve JAG officer before retiring in 1992 as lieutenant colonel. In 1988, he was appointed as a full-time U.S. magistrate judge in the Eastern District of Oklahoma and then as a U.S. district judge by President Bush in 2001. He kept chambers and received cases in both the Eastern and Northern districts and served as the chief judge of the Eastern District from 2002 to 2017. He transitioned to inactive senior status in 2020. Michelle Goen Porta of Henderson, Nevada, died Jan. 8. She was born Jan. 28, 1948. Ms. Porta retired Jan. 3, 2023. She received her J.D. from the OCU School of Law in 1978. John Ray Stacy of Oklahoma City died Dec. 7, 2025. He was born Dec. 31, 1949, in Oklahoma City. He graduated from Northwest Classen High School in 1968. Mr. Stacy attended OSU and OU, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology. He received his J.D. from the OCU School of Law in 1975. After Mr. Stacy’s 31-year law career, he shifted his focus and became a founder of Striker Land Services. In recent years, he worked as an independent landman. He served on numerous committees and organizations and was honored widely for his service and involvement. James Ray Stout of Edmond died Nov. 30, 2025. He was born April 10, 1946, in Oklahoma City. He graduated from Classen High School and OU with a bachelor’s degree. Mr. Stout received his J.D. from the OU College of Law in 1972 and practiced law in Yukon for 48 years. He also served in the Marine Corps Reserve for four years. He was a member of the Choctaw Nation, and during his time at OU, he was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. John Thomas Synowicki of Dallas died Dec. 28, 2025. He was born Feb. 11, 1984, in Omaha, Nebraska. He graduated from Millard North High School in 2002, where he was captain of both the varsity football team and the debate team. He attended Dana College, where he was captain of the football team, a three-time All-American and valedictorian. Mr. Synowicki triple majored in history, international studies and Spanish. He received his J.D. from Vanderbilt Law School in 2010. During law school, he served as chief justice of the Vanderbilt Moot Court Board, was on the dean’s list, received the Thomas Banks Award, competed on the Jessup International Moot Court team and was a member of the Phi Delta Phi Honors Society. Mr. Synowicki worked for GableGotwals and Polsinelli Law Firm, where he was a shareholder. He was a frequent speaker across the country, and he helped shape policy, taught and lectured.
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