Bill Paul, ABA's first Native American president, dies at 94
William G. Paul launched the ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund during his time in office. (Photo courtesy of Crowe & Dunlevy)
William G. Paul, the ABA’s first Native American president, died on June 24 at the age of 94.
Paul, who was known as Bill, led the ABA from 1999-2000. He was a firm believer in increasing diversity in the legal profession. When the ABA’s Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund was established, the initial $100,000 was donated by Paul, his wife, Barbara, and his longtime firm, Crowe & Dunlevy.
During his term, Paul also presided alongside Queen Elizabeth II and Prime Minister Tony Blair over the rededication of the association’s Magna Carta monument in England.
He received the ABA Spirit of Excellence award in 2002.
“Bill Paul’s integrity, wisdom and unwavering commitment to justice left a lasting mark on the legal profession and the American Bar Association,” ABA President William R. Bay said in a news release. “He was more than a role model—he was a moral compass and a true leader. He believed deeply in creating opportunity for those who had long been overlooked, and his vision for a more diverse and inclusive profession continues to guide us.”
Paul graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1952 and the University of Oklahoma School of Law in 1956. During this time, he also spent two years on active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps, which included serving in Korea.
After graduating from law school, Paul joined Crowe & Dunlevy in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He was with the firm for all but 10 of the next 69 years, according to an obituary posted on its website. From 1985 to 1995, he was general counsel and senior vice president of Phillips Petroleum.
Paul served as president of the Oklahoma Bar Association in 1976 and the National Conference of Bar Presidents in 1986. He was named to the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2003 and inducted into the Chickasaw Hall of Fame in 2004. According to the Chickasaw Hall of Fame, Paul’s great-grandfather was a senator in the Chickasaw Nation in the 19th century.
Martha Barnett, who served as ABA president immediately after Paul, praised his character in the association’s news release, calling him “a gentleman and indeed a prince.”
Paul’s funeral services will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City on July 24 at 2 p.m., with a reception following, according to the firm’s obituary.
“Bill lived a wonderful and full 94 (and a half, he would remind us) years, and we are all so much richer for it,” Crowe & Dunlevy wrote. “Although many of us will grieve the loss of his presence, we will also cherish and celebrate the noble and courageous life he lived.”
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