Since its inception in a downtown building, The University of Tulsa College of Law has enjoyed a long history of graduating top-notch attorneys. Founded in 1923 by a group of Tulsa attorneys, the Tulsa Law School, as it was then known, was not affiliated with the university, but became part of TU in 1943. Eventually, the first full-time faculty members were hired and the full-time division was created; the school was accredited by the American Bar Association in 1953 and admitted to membership in the Association of American Law Schools in 1966; and the name of the institution was changed to the College of Law, reflecting its status within the university.

It was during this period of growth that William Wayne Hood, Jr. (JD ’66) attended and graduated from the TU College of Law. He soon went into practice with his brother-in-law, William “Bill” Raynolds, forming the firm Hood & Raynolds, which specialized in family law. He was a highly respected attorney who practiced for more than 30 years. During the 1990s, Mr. Hood was considered a valuable resource by the local media concerning the subject of divorce. He helped to educate the public about custody issues and the rights of both spouses in divorce cases.

After his death at age 57, his wife, Nancy Raynolds Hood, and her brother, Bill Raynolds, along with colleagues and friends of Mr. Hood, established the William Wayne Hood, Jr. Memorial Scholarship for Law. Recipients are known as William Wayne Hood, Jr. Scholars.

The University of Tulsa and the College of Law are sincerely grateful for this most generous remembrance. The college’s growth in both size and reputation are underpinned by scholarships such as these. Deserving law students past, present and future will have a better opportunity to pursue their careers, thanks to the William Wayne Hood, Jr. Memorial Scholarship for Law.