Michael W. Mitchel, 69-year-old former Woodward resident, passed from this life on Sunday, July 1, 2018. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, July 5, 2018, in the First United Methodist Church in Woodward. Interment will follow at 4 p.m. in Garrison Cemetery near Dacoma, Oklahoma, with the Billings Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Michael Wayne Mitchel, son of Robert Wayne Mitchel and Leora Marian Laudick, was born October 12, 1948, in Perryton, Texas. Mike attended Perryton High School where he graduated in 1966. He then attended Northwestern Oklahoma State University on a basketball scholarship. He graduated from Northwestern with a bachelor of science degree in 1970.
On August 16, 1970, in Dacoma, Oklahoma, Mike was married to Constance Jean Leamon. Mike and Connie then moved to Norman, Oklahoma, where Mike pursued his juris doctorate from the University of Oklahoma College of Law. Soon after his law school graduation in 1973, Mike was admitted to the Oklahoma Bar Association. He and Connie then moved to Woodward, where he began his law practice.
Mike has been a member of the Oklahoma Bar Foundation, where he served on the board of trustees; the Oklahoma Bar Association (OBA), where he served as vice-president; and on the Board of Governors of the OBA. In 1981, the OBA awarded him the Outstanding Young Lawyer Award.
Aside from his law practice, Mike’s spirit for public service allowed him to impact public education in many ways. He has served at all three levels of public education. From 1988 to 2000, Mike served two terms as a member of the Oklahoma State Board of Vocational and Technical Education, which governs the career tech system. He received the Oklahoma Vocational Association Distinguished Service Award in 2001. From 1994 to 2000, Mike also served on the Oklahoma State Board of Education, which governs common education. From 2008 to 2017, Mike served on the Board of Regents for the Regional University System of Oklahoma.
In 2010, Mike was inducted to the Northwestern Sports Hall of Fame. In 2017, Mike was inducted into the 101 Classic Bowl Foundation Hall of Fame. Mike was also recently recognized by Northwestern as an outstanding graduate when he was given the 2018 education award.
Mike was a passionate sports fan who closely followed Oklahoma football, Northwestern Ranger sports, and the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, his greatest joy came from watching his children and grandchildren participate in numerous activities and competitions.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Leora Mitchel.
Mike is survived by his wife, Connie; their three children and five grandchildren, Mikela and Mark Williams and Kaden; Jay and Micol Mitchel, London and Laken; Jared and Haley Mitchel, Crew and Collins.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Michael W. Mitchel Classic Bowl Foundation Scholarship.
Remembrances may be shared online at http://www.billingsfuneralhomewoodward.com.
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