VP's Corner - Schools Out for Summer Philip Hixon

VP'S CORNER

Philip Hixon, TCBA Vice President SCHOOL’S OUT FOR SUMMER

As I was exploring topics for this month’s article, I came across a comment that Alice Cooper’s song “School’s Out” is—and I quote—the “ultimate June tune.” I won’t speculate as to whether the assessment of the anthem is accurate, but I will attest that the song has been playing on an endless loop in my head for several days now (as I suspect may now be true for some of you of a certain age). Anyway, this article has a June publication date, and school has recessed for summer. At least one member of my household is celebrating the latter event (but he thinks the VP Corner is boring).

Notwithstanding this year’s commemoration of the tragic events of May 31—June 1, 1921, and the list of horribles arising from COVID-19 over the past 18-months, June brings other things to celebrate. Some normalcy seems to be returning to everyday life. I am hoping to permanently retire my mask collection soon. GableGotwals’ office move to the Greenwood District is complete with everyone back in the office and settled in.

Baseball season is in full swing. (As I began to write this article, the grounds crew at ONEOK Field was outside my new office window preparing the diamond for last night’s Bedlam game. Go Pokes!) Last year’s vacation, which was canceled due to the pandemic, has been rescheduled for July. I now have offspring old enough to share in lawn care duties. Let’s celebrate!

The Bar Center will be closed Monday, July 5th in observance of Independence Day.

This June also marks my twentieth year—my entire career as an attorney—in Tulsa. Time flies (too fast) and things have changed. My first residence in T-Town is now part of the Gathering Place/Discovery Lab complex. My current residence was pasture land in Owasso. Some of the associate attorneys in my office were completing kindergarten. Unlike now, the waist size of my jeans was less than or equal to the length size. A then-confirmed bachelor now can’t imagine life without my wife and son.

At least one thing in that 20-years has remained constant: I’ve been a member of the TCBA. Membership in the TCBA, and especially leadership positions in the Association, has always been valuable to me. I have met people who I would not have otherwise known, or not known as well, but for membership. My membership has progressed from a passive member to YLD chair and now culminating in (admittedly unopposed) “election” as President-Elect. I thank all of you who cast a vote for me, although it wasn’t necessary. I look forward to continued service to the Association and its membership.

Let’s celebrate! School’s out for summer!