2024 Justice & Dreams Gala: Honoring legacies, advancing legal minds - The University of Tulsa
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2024 Justice & Dreams Gala: Honoring legacies, advancing legal minds

The annual Justice & Dreams Gala celebrates individuals who are being inducted into the College of Law’s Hall of Fame at The University of Tulsa. The event, which was held at Southern Hills Country Club in March this year, highlights legal excellence and service and raises funds for law school scholarships.

The 2024 inductees embody lifelong commitments to community service and societal advancement.

  • Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Law for his work in advancing Native rights and preserving cultural heritage.
  • Wendy Drummond (JD ’07) received the Benjamin P. Abney Cor Legis Award for her achievements in employment, entertainment, and technology law.
  • B.C. Franklin played a vital role in advocating for the Black community in the immediate aftermath of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. For this, he was posthumously honored with the W. Thomas Coffman Community Service Award, which was accepted by his grandson John Whittington Franklin.

Scholarships, which open doors in the legal field, were a key focus of the gala. The emphasis on driving tangible change was palpable through the support of both the audience and the individuals being recognized.

Wendy Drummond (JD ’07)

“I hope that this kind of honor helps other young women think about what they want to do with their life,” stated Drummond in her acceptance speech. “Law is such a great degree to help you navigate our society and the complexities and understand our legal system. It is a huge bonus.”

The gala offered a preview of a future where the legal field addresses opportunities within a changing society. Shaping tomorrow’s legal minds involves blending traditional wisdom with forward thinking.

“Working together to positively impact lives is vitally important because together we achieve far more than any one of us could by ourselves,” Anoatubby said in his speech. “When we join together, striving toward a common goal, great things happen.”

Dean Oren Griffin, Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby

The camaraderie of the evening filled the room. In the homage to B.C. Franklin, it was said that he “was uncompromising with the truth and always fighting for those who can’t really fight for themselves.”

The Justice & Dreams Gala was a reminder of the legal profession’s duty to uphold justice and build fair futures. Every attendee and sponsor played a key role in shaping a shared legacy.

“This is what it’s all about,” concluded Dean Oren R. Griffin. “Helping these young men and women achieve their goals and making sure that TU Law continues to produce well qualified, motivated lawyers to serve not only in the state of Oklahoma, but the nation and beyond.”