The Oklahoma Bar Journal October 2026

I n M emoriam

J ames Dan Batchelor of Oklahoma City died July 31. He was born Jan. 20, 1936, in Durant. He graduated from Southeastern Oklahoma State University with a bachelor’s degree in math with honors in 1958. he served as president of the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Student Association and won several national debate tournaments. Mr. Batchelor received his J.D. from the OU College of Law in 1961. During law school, he was president of the American Law Student Association, served on the Oklahoma Law Review Board of Editors and received many honors, including Order of the Coif, Law Graduate of the Year by the Phi Delta Phi International Legal Fraternity and Outstanding Officer of the American Law Student Association. Mr. Batchelor then joined the newly established Urban Renewal Authority in Oklahoma City in 1966, where he created the legal and financial strategies for the revitalization of downtown, the creation of the Oklahoma Health Center and the general improvement of the city. He was instrumental in Oklahoma’s passage of the Local Development Act, which gave local governments vital tools for growth, and spent the remainder of his career focused on economic development across the state. In 2001, he co-founded the Center for Economic Development Law with his daughter, through which he helped communities finance countless projects that otherwise would not have been possible. In 2005, he was honored with the Stanley Draper Award for the lasting impact he made on downtown Oklahoma City. He

served on the board of the Native American Cultural and Educational Authority since its inception and spent more than two decades helping to lay the groundwork for the First Americans Museum. He also served as chairman and long time board member for A Chance to Change Foundation. He was a long-time and beloved member of the Western Club, and his involve ment in the recovery program led to many of his closest and most meaningful friendships. W illiam Howard Bock of Oklahoma City died Aug. 21. He was born June 30, 1964, in Oklahoma City. He graduated from Heritage Hall High School in 1982. Mr. Bock attended OU, where he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, and graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a bachelor’s degree in business. He received his J.D. from the OCU School of Law in 1988. He opened his own firm, which he eventually transitioned his litigation focus to criminal defense. T imothy Kevin Colbert of Sulphur died Aug. 20. He was born April 9, 1950, in Oklahoma City. He graduated from Sulphur High School in 1968 and from OU with a bachelor’s degree in history. Mr. Colbert received his J.D. from the OCU School of Law in 1976. While a student at OCU, he worked as a case manager for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. After law school, he began his service as a city judge in Sulphur. He was appointed by Gov. Nigh as associate district judge for Murray County, where he served citizens of Murray,

Johnston, Marshall and Love counties, for 26 years. He was a charter member of the Chickasaw Bar Association and Murray County Bar Association and was honored for 50 years as a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association in 2026. He was inducted into the Chickasaw Hall of Fame in 2020, honored for his 40 years of service to the Chickasaw people, as well as his years of service as associate district judge. Mr. Colbert’s service to the Chickasaw Nation began in 1979, when he was elected to the forerunner of the Chickasaw Legislature, the Chickasaw Tribal Council. Elected in 1983 to the Chickasaw Legislature, he contin uously represented the people of the Tishomingo District in Seat 2 for an unprecedented 12 terms, serving the Chickasaw people for four decades. A udrey Jean Myers of Muskogee died Aug. 31. She was born July 27, 1957, in Brownsville, Texas. M itchell D. O’Donnell of Tulsa died Aug. 8. He was born June 28, 1934, in Bowlegs. He graduated from Bowlegs High School in 1952. Mr. O’Donnell attended East Central University, where he was on a football scholar ship. He received his J.D. from the TU College of Law in 1961. After school, he formed the law firm of Savage, O’Donnell & McNulty with classmates in 1963. He developed a general practice, representing individuals and family businesses for well over 50 years.

104 | OCTOBER 2026

THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL