It is with great pleasure that the Tulsa County Bar Association names W. Chad McLain as the 2014 recipient of the Gary C. Clark Distinguished Service Award. This award is given to those who have provided extraordinary service to the Bar and for distinguished contributions to the legal profession. Chad has truly provided extraordinary service through his legal career.
During and since his graduation from the University of Tulsa College of Law in 2001, Chad has devoted considerable time to serving the Tulsa County Bar Association and Foundation. He has served as a committee member, vice-chair and chair of numerous TCBA/TCBF committees, including the Community Outreach, Law Week, Bench and Bar, Pro Bono, Grievance, and Executive Director’s Search Committees. Chad has also served as Treasurer on the Association’s Executive Committee, and as a Director on the Foundation’s Board.
Chad is currently the chair of the Capital Campaign Steering Committee which is focused on raising $750,000.00 to renovate the Bar Center. For the past three years, Chad has dedicated numerous hours to the project, including organizing the committee and countless meetings; securing an architect, drawings, and estimates; addressing all questions and concerns of our members about the project; and gathering pledges. Thanks to Chad’s tireless efforts to this project, the Committee has raised $385,000.00 this year. Those who have worked with him never doubt that a project he undertakes will be completed with the utmost attention to detail and enthusiasm.
In addition to his exemplary service to the Bar, Chad has also served on the boards of the TU College of Law Alumni Association and Golden Hurricane Club. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Oklahoma Association for Justice, Summit Club and Tulsa Lawyers for Children (“TLC”). In addition to being a child advocate, he has assisted TLC in raising thousands of dollars over the past two years by participating in the planning and organizing of its Tinsel & Tuxes fundraiser. Chad is serving as this year’s chair of the event.
Chad is a partner of Graves McLain law firm and focuses his law practice primarily in the areas of personal injury, medical negligence, and catastrophic motor vehicle accidents. His work ethic and level of service to the Bar, his clients, and his community are indeed extraordinary. And it is because of his selfless service, dependability, and leadership that the legal profession and our Association will continue to prosper. Congratulations Chad, and thank you for all you have done and will continue to do.
*This article was authored by Tulsa Lawyer, a publication of the Tulsa County Bar Association