Halden “Hod” George Tolbert 1915~2016

Halden George Tolbert, known as “Hod”, was born on a farm Southeast of Watonga, Oklahoma on January 22, 1915, to William “Billy” and Maude Tolbert. Billy and Maude had a daughter who died before Hod was born, and a son who died as a result of a horse accident when Hod was five years old. Billy and Maude moved with their sole surviving child, Hod, to town and ran a produce store from the building located at the corner of Prouty and “A” Street. Hod was raised on the second story of the produce building. He worked in the produce store and cleaned chickens and tanned hides in the alley behind the store. He learned early the ethic of hard work and frugality. After graduating from high school, Hod studied for a short time at both Southwestern State College and Oklahoma University, and finally ended with attending Cumberland University Law School in Tennessee. He worked for Theodor Graalman, a lawyer practicing in Watonga who also owned an abstract company, and it was there that Hod found his passion. He loved practicing law and helping people with their problems through his law practice. During his life, Hod held many positions, all involved with the practice of law. He served in the military intelligence during WWII, was elected County Attorney for Blaine County, and served two terms in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. In 1957, he purchased the abstract company from Theo Graalman, and remained in private practice for the rest of his life. For most of his life, he was a member of the Methodist Church, the Masonic Lodge, and the American Legion. He leaves surviving him, his wife, Leona, of the home, 2 daughters, Veva Daugherty of Watonga, and Susan Tolbert of New Braunfels, Texas, a son, Hal Tolbert of Santa Rosa, California, a step-son, Lanny Pierce of Chickasha, Oklahoma, and a step-daughter, Lynne Babbit, of El Reno, Oklahoma, 6 grandchildren, 6 step-grandchildren, and numerous great grandchildren. Hod could frequently be heard to say, “If I had a 1,000 lives to live, I would live each one of them as a country lawyer”.