Philip D. Hixon A Message from the President 2022-2023 THE END OF THE LINE

In at least five articles I have submitted this year inclusive of this one, I have cited the online version of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. My first article in September 2022 cited the definition of “community.”

January 2023 cited the definition of “professionalism.”

June 2023 cited a definition of “diversity.” July 2023 cited the definition of “membership.” My over-reliance on this quite useful resource was not planned, yet by happenstance, there has been some thematic overlap among the prior citations. For this, my last, article, I cite it for the definition of the phrase, “the end of the line,” which means “the end (as of a condition or situation).” Of course, the applicable condition or situation in this particular case is the end of my term.

The Association has had a good year. Early in the fiscal year, we evolved the Young Lawyer Committee into a Young Lawyer Division with a semi-autonomous board and launched the inaugural YLD Leadership Academy. The YLD itself began several new projects of its own, including its successful “WINe IT ALL” fundraiser. We refreshed the covers of this publication with various Tulsa landmarks and scenes. We hosted a Judicial Forum moderated by Judith Nole of Public

Radio Tulsa for the lone contested district court judicial race between Judge Tanya Wilson and now-Judge Kevin Gray. We presented gavels to eight judges.

As in years past, the Association offered its membership hours of free continuing legal education: 76 hours to be precise (with 20 hours of ethics credit). The Bench and Bar Committee offered nine one-hour Brown Bag CLE sessions—again, free of charge to members—at the Tulsa County District Court.

The Association continued its active involvement in the broader community. The Street Law program entered its second year, serving 18 students from the KIPP University Prep High School. The Court Assistance Program (CAP) logged nearly 160 hours assisting tenants facing eviction on the Tulsa County FED docket. The Children and the Law Committee and the Juvenile Law Section sponsored the eighth annual Holiday Challenge, aiding twenty-five families reuniting with their children. The Veterans and Military Committee sponsored a fitness challenge, raising funds to support the Veterans Treatment Court program.

Everyone who contributed to these programs and events, and to the multitude not mentioned above, has my sincere gratitude. You have achieved the community I envisioned in my September 2022 article.

The Association’s (and Foundation’s) annual meeting and awards ceremony is August 17 at the Discovery Lab across the street from the Gathering Place. We’ll recognize several of our peers. Our speaker, John Erling, will share information and stories from his Voices of Oklahoma oral history project. I encourage you to check out the website: https://voicesofoklahoma.com/ It contains a wealth of interviews with notable Oklahomans of all walks of life, including several Tulsa area attorneys. If you haven’t already, please purchase your tickets for the annual meeting. Seating is limited due to the unique venue.

It has been my privilege and honor to serve the Association this past 12-months, and I will forever cherish the experience. Thank you for the opportunity.

Phiip D.Hixon TCBA President, 2022-2023