The Oklahoma Bar Journal December 2023

J oe Davis Wheeler Jr. of Oklahoma City died Oct. 8. He was born Aug. 18, 1948, in Oklahoma City. He attended OU, where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta. Mr. Wheeler served in the Oklahoma Air National Guard. Upon completion of his service, he finished his under graduate degree at OCU. He maintained a family legacy of practicing law and received his J.D. from the OCU School of Law. Mr. Wheeler practiced law with his father throughout his father’s entire career. He practiced law for more than 46 years.

defense, insurance rehabilitation and liquidation, construction and suretyship. Mr. Rhodes also served as the Oklahoma Deputy Insurance Commissioner, as counsel for the Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner and as a receiver in rehabilita tions and liquidations since 1971. He was a Fellow and former Oklahoma chair of the American Bar Foundation, a Trustee of the Oklahoma Bar Foundation and a member of the American Judicature Society, the Defense Research Institute and the Tulsa County and American bar associations.

legal seminars and enjoyed serving as a mentor to many judges and lawyers. Memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Stephenson Cancer Center or the OU College of Arts and Sciences. C hris L. Rhodes III of Tulsa died Sept. 3. He was born March 31, 1932. Mr. Rhodes received his J.D. from the OU College of Law in 1959. He served as senior statesman of Rhodes, Hieronymus, Jones, Tucker & Gable PLLC, where he consulted with the firm’s litigation groups in areas including corpo rate, insurance and damage suit

NOTICE OF JUDICIAL VACANCY

The Judicial Nominating Commission seeks applicants to fill the following judicial office of Associate District Judge, Seventeenth Judicial District, Pushmataha County, Oklahoma. This vacancy is due to the resignation of the Honorable Jana Wallace on November 1, 2023. To be appointed an Associate District Judge, an individual must be a registered voter of the applicable judicial district at the time (s)he takes the oath of office and assumes the duties of office. Additionally, prior to appointment, the appointee must have had a minimum of two years experience as a licensed practicing attorney, or as a judge of a court of record, or combination thereof, within the State of Oklahoma. Application forms may be obtained online at okjnc.com or by contacting Tammy Reaves at (405) 556-9300. Applications must be submitted to the Chairman of the JNC no later than 5:00 p.m., Friday, December 15, 2023. Applications may be mailed, hand delivered or delivered by third party commercial carrier. If mailed or delivered by third party commercial carrier, they must be postmarked on or before December 15, 2023 to be deemed timely. Applications should be mailed/delivered to: Jim Bland, Chairman Oklahoma Judicial Nominating Commission c/o Tammy Reaves Administrative Office of the Courts 2100 N. Lincoln Blvd., Suite 3 Oklahoma City, OK 73105

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THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL