Judge William W. Means was a proud alumnus of The University of Tulsa College of Law (JD ’61) who generously supported his alma mater after his graduation.

He had a long and fulfilling career on the bench from 1967 until 1991, beginning with an appointment to the Court of Common Pleas, then serving as a longtime Tulsa County district judge and presiding judge from 1971 until 1982, and finally serving on the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals from 1982 until his retirement.

Judge Means valued the quality education he received at The University of Tulsa, and he served as an adjunct professor in the TU College of Law for many years.

In recognition of his impressive career accomplishments and his loyalty to his alma mater, Judge Means was awarded the TU Law Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009. He also was honored with a community service award from the Tulsa Coalition for Older People in 1979 for his help in implementing the Protective Services Act, and he received a Kiwanis Youth Service Award for his volunteer work with the Tulsa-area Boy Scouts.

Judge Means had a profound interest in promoting ethics among lawyers and judges, and he served on various committees of the Oklahoma Bar Association dedicated to legal ethics and professional responsibility. Judge Means was instrumental in the formation and adoption of the former Oklahoma Rules of Professional Responsibility and the current Rules of Professional Conduct, which set the standard for all Oklahoma attorneys.

Judge Means passed away in 2012, and his widow, Mary Ellen Means, established a TU scholarship one year later to pay tribute to his distinguished career and sterling reputation. The William W. Means Professionalism Endowed Scholarship for the College of Law provides financial assistance to law students who have demonstrated a strong commitment to ethics and professionalism, extending Judge Means’ quest to promote these principles in the practice of law.