Noteworthy Alumni in the Field of Law – William Berry ’30

William Berry from MMA’s Class of 1930 was a dedicated patriot who served as county attorney, solider, Oklahoma County judge and Supreme Court judge. He was also an active member of several veteran organizations, a humanitarian who served in leadership roles of major organizations such as the Red Cross, Salvation Army and Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, and was an initial organizer of the Big Brothers of Oklahoma.

After graduating from MMA, Berry continued his education and earned his law degrees from Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma School of Law. He began his career as county attorney in Payne County, Oklahoma, but left soon after to enlist in the U. S. Naval Intelligence Service during World War II.

Stationed in Manila, Berry was captured by the Japanese in 1942. He was taken and held as a prisoner of war for 33 months. During his internment, he managed to escape once, but was quickly recaptured and sentenced to death. Fortunately, his sentence was delayed long enough for him to be liberated by American forces during the liberation of the Philippines in 1945. You can read about his experience in his book Prisoner of the Rising Sun.

He ended his military service with the rank of lieutenant commander, having earned a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star, two Presidential Unit Citations and two Battle Stars, including a Philippine Defense Citation.

After his service, Berry returned to his home state of Oklahoma where he began his own private law practice. By 1947, he became the assistant district attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma. He served in that position for several years, before moving to Oklahoma City, where he ran for and became the Oklahoma County Juvenile Judge. In that position, he was assigned to handle all juvenile cases in the county.

Recognizing the need, Berry worked with the Juvenile Council of Oklahoma City, county officials, church organizations, Parent-Teacher Association groups, social workers, psychologists, and members of the bar and medical professions to draft a bill for the Oklahoma Legislature to allow Oklahoma County to fund construction of a home for delinquent young people – the first juvenile detention facility in Oklahoma County. In his honor, the Oklahoma County Commissioners Court officially named the facility “Berry House” at its dedication.

Among his other noteworthy accomplishments as a judge, Berry assisted in exposing corruption in the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Two of his co-workers – Justice Earl Welch and Justice N.S. Corn – were indicted on charges of income tax evasion and bribery.

Morally outraged by the details of the case, Berry helped bring the case to light through public attention. Afterwards, he worked with author James Alexander to write the book Justice for Sale: Shocking Scandal of the Oklahoma Supreme Court to build pressure for changing the way Oklahoma selects and monitors their judges.

Berry won election to the Supreme Court in 1958 and was reelected three terms, where he served as vice chief justice and chief justice before retiring as an associate justice. At his retirement, he was recognized for outstanding service by the Oklahoma Judicial Conference, Oklahoma County Bar Association and the Oklahoma Legislature.

After retiring from the Supreme Court, Berry began practicing law as a private attorney, and working for his family’s oil and gas business, the Thomas N Berry Company, as a director, president and chairman of the board.

Berry was an active member of the American, state and county bar associations, the American Judicature Society, and the Conference of Chief Justices, and was the representative on the National State Courts Center.

As an advocate for his veteran community, Berry was a member of the American Legion where he served as commander and department junior vice commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He also served as National Commander for the National Commander of American Ex Prisoners of War and a member of the Disabled American Veterans.

As an active member of his community and humanitarian for his country, Berry served as a director of the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army, chairman of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, and was a member of the Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce and United Appeal. Additionally, Berry was an initial organizer of the Oklahoma Big Brothers.

Berry, at age 88, died on June 16, 2004. He was survived by his wife, two children and five grandchildren.

MMA is honored to count Berry among our noteworthy alumni.