The Oklahoma Bar Journal January 2023

M eet Y our B ar A ssociation

Brian Hermanson Brings Service Leadership to his Role as 2023 OBA President

By Emily Buchanan Hart

F ROMONLY NINE YEARS OLD, Mr. Hermanson knew he wanted to be a lawyer. Every step he took from grade school through law school helped set him up for success. EARLY LIFE Born in Milwaukee and raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin, 2023 OBA President Brian Hermanson has always had a competitive spirit. At Green Bay East High School, he was on the school wrestling team, the

serve as Brown County, Wisconsin’s “DA for the Day.” He also served as president of his high school debate team, later going on to major in political science and history at Carroll. It was during his days at Carroll that one of his instructors, an OU graduate, inspired him to pack up and move to Oklahoma to attend law school. “I thought if I were in Oklahoma, I could buckle down and study,” he said. Upon graduating from OU, Mr. Hermanson interned at Phipps, Johnson and Holmes in Ponca City, where he later became partner. At his swearing-in cere mony to become a lawyer in 1978, Mr. Hermanson met his now wife, Ruslyn. “Ruslyn was attending to see a friend of hers get sworn in,” Mr. Hermanson said. “A mutual friend knew I was moving to Ponca City, so she introduced me to her. A year later, we went on our first date.” Mr. Hermanson then married Ruslyn, and they had two daughters – Charlcy, who is now a church music director in Ponca City, and Brianna, who works as an illustrator in Northampton, Massachusetts. Mr. Hermanson's wife, Ruslyn,

football team and the tennis team. He went on to wrestle at Carroll College (now Carroll University) in Waukesha, Wisconsin. That competitive spirit showed through not only in sports but also in his fondness for a good debate. “I like winning arguments,” Mr. Hermanson chuckled. “My mom said I was always debating with her.” While in high school, Mr. Hermanson had the opportunity to

Left: Young Brian Hermanson celebrating his third birthday Right: Mr. Hermanson during his wrestling days at Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin

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THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL