F. Hiner Dale

Fred Hiner Dale (June 2, 1881 – January 12, 1969) was a prominent state court trial judge in western Oklahoma. A native of Kentucky, Dale received his law degree from the University of Missouri in 1906 [1] He settled in Guymon, in the panhandle of the newly created state of Oklahoma, in 1907. He served as Texas County Attorney between 1915 and 1921. He was nominated to the First District Court by Governor Henry S. Johnson in 1927 and was re-elected to the bench until his retirement in 1950. This region in western Oklahoma became the epicenter of the Dustbowl during the Great Depression and World War II. In that role, he worked vigorously to help maintain local farms and ranches.

Judge Dale wrote three books, including two genealogies: A History of the Michael Reasor and Allied families [2] ^:7 and A History of Pittenger family in America [2] In 1961 he published his autobiography, ""An Oklahoma Lawyer".

In 1907, Judge Dale co-founded the still-active Guymon law firm of Wright, Dale, and Jett.[1] For over a century, he, a son (Judge Don Dale), or a grandson (Douglas Dale) has been active at the firm.

Ripley's Believe It Or Not recounted a case in which Judge Dale was the presiding judge, a daughter (Beth Dale Hays) was the prosecuting attorney, and a son (Vincent Dale) was the defense attorney. The son defended successfully.

He was elected to the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1955.[3] He died in Guymon in January 1969.

References

1. directory
2. book title A history of the Pittenger family in America Know your kinfolk
3. Biography, Oklahoma Hall of Fame