The Oklahoma Bar Journal January 2024

J ames Ellwood McCright of Oklahoma City died Nov. 6. He was born Oct. 6, 1943, in Walker, Iowa. He graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1968. Mr. McCright was inducted into the U.S. Army after gradua tion and completed basic training at Fort Bliss, Texas. He served as a personnel specialist/personnel clerk for the 573rd Personnel Service Company, processing between 500-600 soldiers return ing from overseas each day. He was promoted to specialist E-5 less than a year after being inducted and was honorably dis charged at the rank of E-5 on Feb. 20, 1970. Mr. McCright received the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service while stationed at Fort Bragg. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve in Waterloo, Iowa, serv ing two years before transferring to Fort Snelling, Minnesota, where he served as a personnel service specialist. He was honor ably discharged at the rank of E-6 on April 29, 1981, having served eight years in the reserves. Mr. McCright earned his J.D. from the OCU School of Law in 1993 and practiced for 40 years before working at OSU as a risk manage ment specialist for three years. He then returned to practice law and coach. He coached various sports for more than 40 years throughout his career, including basketball, track, football and baseball. J oe Bailey McMillin Jr. of Rancho Mirage, California, died Sept. 24. He received his J.D. from the OU College of Law in 1968.

W illiam G. Odell of Denver died July 18. He was born Aug. 15, 1931, in Sapulpa. He graduated from the OU College of Law in 1954 and began working at Humble Oil Co. in Denver. He was a founding partner of the law firm of Poulson, Odell & Peterson and became integrated into the oil and gas industry in Denver. His proudest honors included being named Landman of the Year by the Denver Association of Professional Landmen and being inducted into the Western Energy Alliance’s Rocky Mountain Hall of Fame in 2014. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or a char ity of your choice. A lan Albert Pason of Oklahoma City died Aug. 29. He was born June 4, 1942, in New York City. His family moved to Tulsa, and he went on to graduate from TU. Mr. Pason served in the U.S. Army Armored Division in Fort Knox. Following his service, he received his J.D. from the TU College of Law in 1969. He began his career at the Department of Justice in the Antitrust Division. He worked on several high-profile antitrust cases and served as chief of the Dallas Field Office until his retirement in 2002. Mr. Pason dedicated his life to public service and charitable causes. G ary George Prochaska of Oklahoma City died June 28. He was born Aug. 8, 1951, in Berwyn, Illinois. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chem istry from Carroll University in Waukesha, Wisconsin, where he had an athletic scholarship in wrestling. He received his J.D.

from the OU College of Law in 1976. He began his legal career at the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office and practiced in the area of worker’s compensation. Since 2010, he worked at the law firm of Laird Hammons Laird. Memorial contributions may be made to the ALS Association of Oklahoma. C harles Harold Purdy of San Antonio died Oct. 27. He was born Nov. 12, 1931, in San Antonio. He graduated from Baylor University with his master’s degree in economics. Mr. Purdy joined the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Montana. After his service, he graduated from the University of Texas School of Law in 1960 and worked for Phillips Petroleum Co. for 30 years. J oseph William Strealy of Oklahoma City died Oct. 12. He was born Feb. 15, 1953, in Oklahoma City. He graduated from OU, where he became involved in politics and served as the student body president during his sophomore year. He received his J.D. from the OU College of Law. Mr. Strealy began his career at Pritchett and Schnetzler, practic ing in the area of employment law. In 1995, he joined the Oklahoma Department of Human Services in the Office of the General Counsel. He retired in 2016 after serving for 21 years. He remained involved in his community, leading a group to prepare and serve spaghetti at his church, volunteering with Oklahoma Lawyers for Children and reading to children in an afterschool program.

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THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL