The Oklahoma Bar Journal May 2026

OBA A wards

Recognize an Attorney Who Has Made a Significant Impact

The OBA Awards Nomination Period Is Open

By Stephen D. Beam

2 026 IS A NOTABLE YEAR – not only as we celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States but also as we recognize the 75th year since the inception of Law Day by the late Wewoka lawyer Hicks Epton and celebrate the 50th anni versary of the annual Ask A Lawyer event held in conjunction with Law Day in Oklahoma. As you reflect on these events and their significance, I would also like to ask you to reflect on attorneys and law-related organizations making sig nificant impacts – either for you per sonally or in their communities and across the state. Lawyers are special people – driven to enter the legal field by the desire to make a difference. And every day, Oklahoma attorneys are going out in their communities and making positive and noteworthy

contributions, never asking for thanks or recognition in return. That’s why the OBA Awards Committee does what we do. Every year, we solicit nominations from our members for OBA Awards so we can recognize these attorneys and organizations and their mean ingful contributions. The OBA Awards Committee is now accept ing nominations for the 2026 OBA Awards so we can, once again, have the chance to recognize those OBA members and law-related organi zations demonstrating excellence, professionalism and courage within our profession. The designated awards are listed on the next page. Anyone can submit a nomination, and anyone can be nom inated. No specific form is required, and the nominations can be as short

as a one-page letter but cannot exceed five single-sided 8 ½ x 11 pages. You can email, fax or mail the nomina tions. The nomination process is very simple. It only takes a few minutes for you to fill out a nomination form for one of these awards. Visit www.okbar.org for detailed information. At this year’s Annual Meeting in November, we want to honor these attorneys and their notable achieve ments. Let them know their efforts have not gone unnoticed. Submit your nomination today! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Stephen D. Beam is an attorney in private practice in Weatherford. He was OBA president in 2007 and currently serves as the OBA Awards Committee chairperson.

NOMINATION RULES AND TIPS The deadline is 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 30 , but get your nomination in EARLY! Nominations, complete with all supporting material, MUST be received by the deadline. Submissions or supporting material received after the deadline will not be considered. Length of nomination is a maximum of five 8 ½ x 11-inch, one-sided pages, including supporting materials and the form, if used. No exceptions. Make sure the name of the person being nominated and the person (or organization) making the nomination is on the nomination. If you think someone qualifies for awards in several categories, pick one award and only do one nomination. The OBA Awards Committee may consider the nominee for an award in a category other than one in which you nominate that person. Submission options (pick one): 1) email: awards@okbar.org (you will receive a confirmation reply); 2) fax: 405-416-7089; 3) mail: OBA Awards Committee, P.O. Box 53036, Oklahoma City, OK 73152. Visit www.okbar.org/awards for the nomination form if you want to use one (not required), history of previous winners and tips for writing nominations.

42 | MAY 2026

THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL