Honors & Awards
Hall of Fame
The College of Law celebrates distinguished careers and lasting contributions to the legal profession through its annual Law Gala, an evening event honoring alumni and leaders whose achievements reflect the College’s tradition of excellence.
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Past Honorees
2026
Neil E. Bogan (J.D. ’70)
Katherine G. Coyle (J.D. ’72)
The Honorable John F. Heil III (J.D. ’94)
Kathryn A. LaFortune (J.D. ’83, M.A. ’94, Ph.D. ’97)
The Honorable William D. LaFortune Sr. (J.D. ’83)
2025
Lee Levinson (JD ’76) – W. Thomas Coffman Award for Community Service
The Hon. Dawn Moody (BA ’96, JD ’99) – Benjamin P. Abney Cor Legis Award
Clark O. Brewster (JD ’80) – Lifetime Achievement in Law Award
2024
Buck Colbert (B. C.) Franklin – W. Thomas Coffman Award for Community Service (awarded posthumously)
Wendy Drummond (JD ’07) – Benjamin P. Abney Cor Legis Award
Gov. Bill Anoatubby – Lifetime Achievement in Law Award
2023
Danny C. Williams, Sr. (JD ’91) – W. Thomas Coffman Award for Community Service
Stacy Leeds (JD ’97) – Benjamin P. Abney Cor Legis Award
The Honorable Gregory Kent Frizzell (BA ’81) – Lifetime Achievement in Law Award
2022
The Honorable T. Lane Wilson (BS ’89, JD ’94) — W. Thomas Coffman Award for Community Service
Marcia M. MacLeod (BS ’75, JD ’80) — Lifetime Achievement in Law Award
Terry W. West (LLB ’66) — Benjamin P. Abney Cor Legis Award
2019
M. David Riggs (JD ’68)
Beverly K. Smith (JD ’87)
Sidney G. Dunagan (BA ’65, JD ’67)
2018
See video, photos and article from the event here.
Wm. Stuart Price (JD ’82)
Michael C. Turpen (BS ’72, JD ’74)
2017
See an article and pictures from the event here.
Allen Smallwood (JD ’74) – Lifetime Achievement in Law Award
Rachel Blue (JD ’88) – W. Thomas Coffman Award for Community Service
The Honorable Dana Kuehn (JD ’96) – W. Thomas Coffman Award for Community Service
2016
The 2016 Hall of Fame induction ceremony was Saturday, May 14, at Gilcrease Museum, part of 2016 Reunion Weekend.
Benjamin P. Abney (JD ’68)*
The Honorable Carlos J. Chappelle (JD ’80)** (posthumous)
The Honorable Danny C. Williams Sr. (JD ’91) accepted the award on behalf of the late Judge Chappelle.The Honorable John E. Dowdell (JD ’81)
The Honorable Kathy L. Taylor & Elizabeth Frame Ellison
2015
The 2015 Hall of Fame induction ceremony was held May 16, 2015.
See a photo gallery from the 2015 Law Alumni Gala on Facebook.The Honorable John Reif (BA ’73, JD ’78)*
Kathy R. Neal (JD ’82)**
William G. LaSorsa (JD ’74)
Frederic Dorwart
Janet K. Levit, Dean, TU College of Law, 2007—2015
2014
The 2014 Hall of Fame induction ceremony was held May 10, 2014.
See a photo gallery from the 2014 Law Alumni Gala on Facebook.Ken Brune (JD ’74)**
Bill Carmody (JD ’88)
The Honorable Tom Colbert
Mary Quinn Cooper (JD ’86)
The Honorable Jane Wiseman (JD ’73)*
2013
See a photo gallery from the 2013 Law Alumni Gala on Facebook.
The Honorable Daniel J. Boudreau (JD ’76)*
The Honorable Millie Otey (JD ’79)**
The Honorable Layn Phillips (BS ’74, JD ’77)
The Honorable Stephanie Seymour
2012
The Honorable Claire V. Eagan
Sevier M. “Buddy” Fallis Jr. (BA ’58, JD ’60)*
James O. Goodwin (JD ’65)**
Karen E. Langdon (BA ’69, JD ’85)**
Steadman Upham, PhD, President, The University of Tulsa
2011
The Honorable W. Andrew “Drew” Edmondson (JD ’79)**
John R. Woodard III (BA ’65, JD ’67)*
2010
Sharon J. Bell (JD ’85)**
Honorable Charles S. Chapel (JD ’68)*
2009
Paul D. Brunton (JD ’71)**
The Honorable William W. Means (JD ’61)*
2008
Dale Briggs (JD ’50)*
S. Douglas Dodd (BS ’71, JD ’81)**
2007
James E. Poe (BA ’57, JD ’59)*
2006
Peter B. Bradford (JD ’61)*
2005
The Honorable Joseph W. Morris
2004
The Honorable Robert D. Simms Sr. (JD ’50)*
2003
John L. Boyd (JD ’50)*
2002
The Honorable Charles L. Owens (JD ’60)*
2001
Floyd L. Walker (JD ’49)*
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Awards
*The Lifetime Achievement in Law Award
The Lifetime Achievement in Law Award honors notable individuals who have brought honor to the legal profession and to society. With this award, the TU Law Alumni Association recognizes individuals who epitomize the mission and vision of The University of Tulsa College of Law: diligence, discernment, integrity, and a commitment to the betterment of our civic life.
**W. Thomas Coffman Award for Community Service
The W. Thomas Coffman Award for Community Service is presented to College of Law alumni or individuals who have distinguished themselves in the legal field or other chosen profession at an exemplary level and who embody the high ethical standards and commitment to community service. W. Thomas Coffman (1940-2007) was an alumnus of the College of Law’s Class of 1966 and will always be remembered for his years of dedicated service to the Tulsa community. Read more about W. Thomas Coffman.
The Benjamin P. Abney Cor Legis Award
The Ben Abney Cor Legis Award is an honor given yearly to one TU College of Law inductee. These individuals are TU Law alumni who have made a significant impact in the legal field by embodying the Heart of Law through a strong dedication to justice and humanity.
Outstanding Junior Alumni Award
Each year, the UTulsa College of Law and the TU Law Alumni Association recognize outstanding members of the law community through a series of honors and events. In the fall, the College and Alumni Association present the Outstanding Junior and Senior Alumni Awards at an annual luncheon held during the Oklahoma Bar Association Annual Meeting.
The recipient is a legal professional and alumnus or alumna who is less than ten years out of law school. He or she has shown a commitment to the practice of law, demonstrated remarkable achievement in their profession or within the community and shown an ongoing commitment to the UTulsa College of Law.
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Recipients of the Outstanding Junior Alumni Award
- 2025 Pierre D. Robertson (JD ’20)
- 2024 Hope Forsyth (JD ’18)
- 2023 Kristin Treager (JD ’13)
- 2022 Mbilike M. Mwafulirwa (’10, ’12)
- 2021 Stephen F. Baldridge (JD ’12)
- 2020 Stephanie R. Jackson (JD ’18)
- 2019 Joshua W. Solberg (JD 08)
- 2018 Margo Shipley (JD ’14)
- 2017 Rachel E. Gusman (’08)
- 2016 Erin Potter Sullenger (’13)
- 2015 Daniel Carsey (’05)
- 2014 Elizabeth Wells Burden (’10)
- 2013 Matthew Farris (’05)
- 2012 Aaron Hurvitz (’07)
- 2011 Becki Murphy (’03)
- 2010 William Chad McLain (’01); Hugh M. Robert (’98, ’08)
- 2009 Marvin Lizama (’06)
- 2008 Briana Ross (’06)
- 2007 Samantha Weyrauch (’97)
- 2006 Guy Fortney (’93, ’96); Dana Kuehn (’96)
Outstanding Senior Alumni Award
The recipient is an alumnus or alumna who has exemplified strong leadership within the practice of law throughout their career, demonstrated remarkable professional achievement, personal integrity and an ongoing commitment to the UTulsa College of Law.
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Recipients of the Outstanding Senior Alumni Award
- 2025 Betsy G. Jackson (JD ’90)
- 2024 Kathy LaFortune, Ph.D. (JD ’83)
- 2023 Antonio Jeffrey (JD ’06)
- 2022 John D. Dale (JD ’03)
- 2021 The Honorable Shawna S. Baker (JD ’02)
- 2020 William K. Elias (JD ’81)
- 2019 The Honorable Jodi B. Levine (JD ’82)
- 2018 April Ryan (JD ’85)
- 2017 The Honorable Robert D. Bell (’92)
- 2016 Henry D. Hoss (’85)
- 2015 Sidney G. Dunagan (’65, ’68)
- 2014 The Honorable Clancy Smith (’80)
- 2013 Michael Nemec (’71, ’76)
- 2012 Ron Main (’62, ’64)
- 2011 Peter B. Bradford (’61)
- 2010 Edwin W. Parker II (’69)
- 2009 The Honorable Daniel J. Boudreau (’76)
- 2008 Leslie Shelton (’85)
- 2007 The Honorable James E. Goodpaster (’67)
- 2006 Ben Abney (’66, ’68)