James W. Williams came to Ardmore courtesy of the United States Air Force from Silver Springs, Maryland, outside
of Washington, D.C.. While at the Ardmore Air Base, Jim, a pilot, met and married a beautiful young teacher, Ida Sutton, who
had just returned to her hometown to teach 6th grade after completing her college education at Smith College in Massachusetts. Jim
had previously obtained his degree in business from University of Maryland. Jim and Ida moved to Washington, D.C., where Jim graduated
with his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. Jim and Ida returned to Ardmore where Jim opened a law office, entered
into the oil and gas business, and other entrepreneurial pursuits. Although he was not native to Oklahoma, Jim adopted Ardmore and
Oklahoma as his home and became a State Legislator, Ardmore City Councilman, and Mayor of Ardmore.
LOUIS A. FISCHL
Louis A. Fischl
did not graduate from high school, but learned the law as a court reporter and by reading law books. He was admitted to practice
law April 18, 1924. He went on to become a State Senator and co-authored the bill establishing Lake Murray. The Bill passed
the Senate on April 6, 1933 and was signed by Mr. Fischl as Acting President of the Senate. In 1952, he co-founded the
local law firm presently named Fischl, Culp, McMillin, Chaffin, Bahner and Long. Mr. Fischl died in 1973.
T. FRED COLLINS
T.
Fred Collins was an attorney in Ardmore for more than 62 years. In the early days of his practice, he was an assistant county attorney
for Carter County and also served as city attorney for the City of Ardmore. He formed a partnership with his son Lorenzo in 1982 and
they remained partners in the law firm of Collins and Collins, Inc. until his death earlier this year. Mr. Collins was also a member
of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the Ardmore Rotary Club where he was a Paul Harris Fellow, the Ardmore Masonic
Lodge and many other community organizations.
HARRY L. BICKFORD