The Oklahoma Bar Journal December 2023

I n M emoriam

C harles F. Alden III of Edmond died Nov. 5. He was born May 6, 1947, in Little Rock, Arkansas. He studied political science at OSU, where he was a member of the Army ROTC, the National Society of Scabbard and Blade and Lambda Chi Alpha. Mr. Alden was commissioned into the U.S. Army Reserve on July 14, 1970, from which he was honorably discharged on July 17, 1980. He graduated second in his class from the OCU School of Law and was admitted to the bar in 1973. He briefly worked as an assistant municipal counselor for the city of Oklahoma City and as an assistant district attorney for Oklahoma County. He worked in private practice until shortly before his death. He obtained his pilot’s license and multiple ham radio licenses. He was a member of St. Luke’s Methodist Church in Oklahoma City. J ames G. Davidson of Tulsa died Oct. 8. He was born Dec. 28, 1921. Mr. Davidson graduated from OU. He was a World War II veteran. M arjorie P. Downing of Oklahoma City died Oct. 2. She was born June 16, 1933, in Denver. She received her J.D. from the OU College of Law in 1959 and was the only woman in her class. Ms. Downing became the first full-time female member at the OCU School of Law and served as the interim dean during her tenure. She retired from the school in 1998 but continued to lead the way for more women to hold professional positions.

C harles Edwards Drake of Stillwater died Oct. 21. He was born Oct. 20, 1940, in Ponca City. He graduated from OSU with his bachelor’s degree in business administration, with a major in economics. Mr. Drake continued his education at Indiana University and the OU College of Law, where he received his J.D. in 1966. He was a member of the Order of the Coif, president of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, a contributor for the Oklahoma Law Review and a law intern in Oklahoma City. In 1966, he served as an attorney in the Civil Division of the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. A year later, he ventured into private practice, representing banks, major contrac tors, lumber companies, oil jobbers and a diverse range of clients. For 39 years, Mr. Drake served as general counsel to the OSU Board of Regents. He was a respected member of organizations such as the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, ABA, Oklahoma Trial Lawyers Association and the Ponca City Chamber of Commerce. He served as president of the Ponca City community theater and the Ponca Area Council of Camp Fire Girls. Memorial contributions may be made to the OSU Foundation. V ictor Michael Firth of El Paso, Texas, died May 17. He was born Feb. 15, 1960. He graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso in 1981 with his bachelor’s degree in finance with a 4.0 GPA. He received his J.D. from the TU College of Law in 1984. Mr. Firth began practicing at Crowe & Dunlevy PC in Oklahoma City and joined Grambling-Mounce in El Paso in 1986. He eventually

became a shareholder at the firm before leaving to form his own. His law firm, Victor M. Firth PC, became Firth, Johnston, Martinez PC and finally Firth, Bunn, Kerr, Neill PC. Mr. Firth was licensed to practice in Oklahoma and Texas and was a dedicated real estate attorney, representing numerous local lending institu tions, real estate investors and developers and El Paso busi nesses. He served his commu nity through pro bono work and mentorships to countless lawyers. Additionally, he was a Division 1 collegiate football official and helped establish the West Texas Football Clinic to provide train ing and placement opportunities for those wanting to become college football officials. He was inducted into the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame. Memorial contribu tions may be made to the Victor M. Firth and Sylvia Borunda Firth Fund, which provides schol arships for West Texas A&M University students studying law, stipends for law students working for nonprofit or governmental entities and legal services for veterans and other underserved individuals through the El Paso Community Foundation. D avid W. Lee of Oklahoma City died Oct. 19. He was born Dec. 2, 1947, in Lubbock, Texas. He graduated from OU with his bachelor’s degree in finance and received his J.D. from the OU College of Law. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. While in law school, he volunteered at Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma and as a public defender at the Oklahoma City Municipal Court. After law school, Mr. Lee was

62 | DECEMBER 2023

THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL