Memorial & Scholarship Award Funds

Edward & Mary Howell Memorial Fund

Established in 1982 through a generous bequest from Mary Huntsman Howell, the Fund was created in memory of Mrs. Howell’s husband and long-time Oklahoma lawyer, Edward Howell ( -1966). Mrs. Howell’s vision and generosity encouraged the Board of Trustees to hire the first full-time OBF executive director in 1983. The Howell Fund remains a permanent endowment, the income from which is used to further the general charitable purposes of the OBF.

Joseph S. Lewis Memorial Fund

Named in honor of the donor, Joseph S. Lewis (1899-1996), the Fund is an unrestricted, permanent endowment. An example to all, Mr. Lewis generously made approximately 20 testamentary gifts to various charities, including his gift to the OBF through the residual clause of his will. Income from the Fund is used to further the general charitable purposes of the OBF.

Chapman-Rogers Educational Fund

Originally established in 1969, the Fund was created by Leta M. Chapman in honor of long-time Tulsa lawyer John Rogers (1890-1977). Mr. Rogers acted as general counsel, advisor and associate of Mrs. Chapman and the Chapman-McFarlin-Barnard interests. Established to benefit the general charitable purposes of the OBF, income from the Fund is used to help fund three scholarships at each of Oklahoma’s three law schools.

W. B. Clark Scholarship Fund

Named in honor of the late W. B. Clark, father of Ms. Frances Clark Eubank, this testamentary Fund was established following Ms. Eubank’s death in 1995. A permanent endowment, the Fund is used for scholarship funding for a student from Kay County, Oklahoma, to attend law school in Oklahoma.

Thomas L. Hieronymus Memorial Fund

Funded through a gift from his family, the Fund was created in 1995 in memory of Woodward lawyer Thomas L. Hieronymus (1911-1994). Additional corpus was provided by memorial gifts from numerous lawyers throughout Oklahoma. Earnings from the Fund provide an annual scholarship to a student at the University of Oklahoma College of Law engaged in the study of Oil and Gas Law or similar course of study related to Energy and Natural Resources Law.

Gerald B. Klein Memorial Fund

Named for Tulsa lawyer Gerald B. Klein (-1968), this endowment was created in 1968 through gifts in memory of Mr. Klein. The purpose of the fund is to provide an award to the judge, lawyer, law student or lay-person who has been of valuable service and assistance in improving the administration of justice, and who is deemed to exemplify the spirit, dedication and devotion to the legal profession evident in the life of Mr. Klein. The award is given only on a periodic basis.

Maurice H. Merrill Scholarship Fund

Created in 1968 in honor of University of Oklahoma College of Law Professor Dr. Maurice H. Merrill (1897-1985), earnings from the Fund provide an annual scholarship to one student at the University of Oklahoma College of Law for research in the field of Public Law.

Phillips Allen Porta Memorial Award Fund

Created through a testamentary gift by El Reno lawyer A. Francis Porta (1905-1983) in memory of his son, Phillips Allen Porta, this Fund provides a scholarship to the student with the highest grade in Legal Ethics at the University of Oklahoma College of Law.

We accept both designated and undesignated gifts. Gifts of less than $10,000 are generally treated as contributions to the general fund unless otherwise specified. Donors may designate endowment funds for purposes that coincide with the mission of the Oklahoma Bar Foundation.  The minimum gift to create a new fund is $10,000.