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The Tulsa County Bar Foundation is proud to announce this year’s Liberty Bell Award recipient is Michael Willis. The Liberty Bell Award is given to a non-lawyer who has promoted better understanding of the rule of law, encouraged great respect for law and the courts, stimulated a sense of civic responsibility, or contributed to good government in the community. It is also one of the most prestigious awards presented by the TCBF.

Michael Willis was elected as the Tulsa County Clerk in 2016 and began his service in 2017. Prior to running for County Clerk, Michael served Tulsa County as Chief Deputy County Commissioner and Public Information Officer for almost seven years.

Local attorney Austin Bond has worked with Michael on multiple Veterans’ projects and initiatives for several years and says “He is a highly capable and dedicated public servant to the people of Tulsa County and our Veterans. When Tulsa began its national model specialty Veterans Treatment Court Program, Michael worked tirelessly behind the scenes to fight for County resources and support for the program and has continued to do so to this day. Since he became County Clerk, he has led several Veterans’ initiatives and support programs through his office and the wider county government. He has spent countless hours at Veterans’ and civic organizations explaining County benefits and access, and personally scanning Veterans and active duty Service Members’ records and discharge documents into the County Clerk’s Office program for recording military discharge papers and supplying free certified copies for Veterans in Tulsa County. Michael has also been an indispensable asset to the Tulsa and Broken Arrow Veterans Day Parades and multiple Veterans job fairs.”

Judge William LaFortune added that Michael’s “service as Tulsa County Clerk is what makes him an excellent candidate for the Liberty Bell Award. The County Clerk's Office, while not directly tied to the courts, is a significant piece of the legal system. As the repository for legal instruments that affect land title, the office is crucial to the legal foundation in our county. In his five years as County Clerk, Michael has modernized the office. He has released hundreds of thousands of documents for online viewing. He has created a mapbased land record system where every resident of Tulsa County can now get a copy of their deed online for free. He focuses his staff on customer service, which is not common in government.”

In addition to his service to the County as the County Clerk, Michael is involved heavily in the Tulsa Community and volunteers hundreds of hours per year in law enforcement as a Reserve Deputy Sheriff and has since 2009. “Besides being an innovative leader and consummate public servant, Michael’s civic involvement is truly inspiring” comments Assistant District Attorney James G. Rea. He actively advocates for the recruitment of Veterans by first responder entities, is a member of Leadership Tulsa and Tulsa’s Young Professionals, serves on boards including that of Rebuild Oklahoma, Tulsa Sports Commission, INCOG, Friends of The MET and the OU Master of Public Administration Advisory Board, and has served on several other community and non-profit boards over the years. He has also volunteered his service at the state level serving as Governor’s appointee to the Board of Directors for the Office of Juvenile Affairs from 2014 until October 2016.

Michael Willis is truly an asset to the County and its Veterans and is an outstanding individual who works hard to support the foundation of law in our county.

He was born in Tulsa and grew up in West Tulsa and Sapulpa. He attended the University of Oklahoma where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Public Affairs and Administration, and a Master of Public Administration.