1902
Crowe & Dunlevy began when Charles Edward Johnson (1870-1950) opened the first law office in the Oklahoma Territory at 131 ½ West Grand (now Sheridan Avenue). The Westin Hotel stands at this location today. “Olie” Johnson was an emigrant from Sweden who graduated from the University of Texas Law School (LL.B., 1901).
1903
The first law partnership in the Oklahoma Territory started when Albert P. Crockett (1871-1918) joined “Olie” Johnson in the practice of law.
1904
The firm moved to larger quarters at 129 West Grand.
1905
The firm made its next move to Oklahoma City’s first “skyscraper,” the six-story Lee Building at the northeast corner of Main and Robinson.
1907
The firm name became Burwell, Crockett & Johnson when Benjamin F. Burwell (1866-1916) joined the practice of law. Burwell began practicing law in Oklahoma in 1891. By 1898, Burwell was serving as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court for the Territory of Oklahoma, a position he held from 1898 until statehood in 1907. Some of Judge Burwell’s books are still in the firm’s library today.
1916
John Embry (1869-1960) joined the Firm, and its name became Embry, Crockett & Johnson. He had served as the U.S. Attorney for the Territory of Oklahoma and later for the State from 1907-1912.
1918
The firm name became Embry, Johnson & Kidd when Chester P. Kidd joined in the practice of law. He retired in 1922 due to illness.
1922
The firm name became Embry, Johnson & Tolbert, and the office moved to the Medical Arts Building at the southwest corner of Park and Broadway. Raymond A. Tolbert (1890-1960), a Texas native and a graduate from the University of Oklahoma School of Law (LL.B., 1913), was the firm’s Managing Partner until his death.
1927
The next move was to the Perrine Building at the southwest corner of Park and Robinson.
1929
Vincil Penny (“V.P.”) Crowe (1897-1974), a graduate of the University of Missouri, joined the firm, and the name became Embry, Johnson, Crowe & Tolbert. “V.P.” had been Garfield County Attorney in Enid, Oklahoma, and Assistant Attorney General for the State of Oklahoma.
1932
The First National Building was completed this year, and the firm moved to Suite 640 at the southeast corner of Park and Robinson.
1943
The firm name became Embry, Johnson, Crowe, Tolbert & Shelton to include its partner, Troy Shelton.
1951
The firm name became Embry, Johnson, Crowe, Tolbert & Boxley to include John Embry’s son-in-law, Calvin P. Boxley (1901-1966).
1953
“Olie” Johnson’s name was dropped from the firm name because of his death in 1950, and the name of Bruce H. Johnson was added to form Embry, Crowe, Tolbert, Boxley & Johnson. (The two Johnsons were not related.)
1958
The firm moved to a new addition to the First National Building, 120 Park Avenue.
1959
Vivian Diffendaffer becomes the first woman attorney to work at Crowe & Dunlevy.
1961
After the deaths of John Embry and Raymond A. Tolbert in 1960, the firm’s name became Crowe, Boxley, Dunlevy, Thweatt, Swinford & Johnson. Fred W. Dunlevy had joined the firm in 1937, C. Harold Thweatt in 1944, and John W. Swinford in 1946.
1967
The next move was to the 100 Park Building, which had been the firm’s address in 1922 when it was known as the Medical Arts Building.
1968
The firm’s name became Crowe, Dunlevy, Thweatt, Swinford, Johnson & Burdick to include Ben L. Burdick who had joined the firm in 1947.
1972
The new Liberty Tower was completed at the northeast corner of Main and Broadway, and the firm moved to the 16th and 17th floors.
1979
Crowe, Dunlevy, Thweatt, Swinford, Johnson & Burdick, A Professional Corporation, became the firm’s name.
1981
Crowe & Dunlevy, A Professional Corporation, became the firm’s name, and in the summer of 1981 it moved to the Mid-America Tower at the southeast corner of Main and Broadway (now known as 20 North Broadway). The Huckins Hotel originally occupied this site at Main and Broadway and was known to be the first capitol building in Oklahoma City.
1989
To meet the needs of Tulsa clients, Crowe & Dunlevy opened an office in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
2001
Crowe & Dunlevy celebrated the firm’s centennial.
2005
Crowe & Dunlevy established the Diversity Scholars Program at the University of Oklahoma College of Law.
2007
Crowe & Dunlevy formed the Oklahoma Law Alliance.
2011
Crowe & Dunlevy and Day, Edwards, Propester & Christensen combine resources to enhance services for local, national and international clients. Attorneys from Day, Edwards, Propester & Christensen joined Crowe & Dunlevy, with a focus on the securities and litigation and banking and financial institutions practice groups.
2012
The firm’s Diversity Scholars Program commenced at The University of Tulsa College of Law.
2014
Crowe & Dunlevy became the anchor tenant of the newly renovated, historic Braniff Building in downtown Oklahoma City. The current location holds an important place in Oklahoma’s history and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The 10-story building was built in 1923 and home to Braniff Airways until the early 1940s. Crowe & Dunlevy attorneys, legal staff and support staff occupy all ten floors of the building’s Class A office space.
Also this year, Crowe & Dunlevy celebrates 25 years in its Tulsa office. The firm paid tribute to clients and the community with a donation of $12,500 distributed among 25 different Tulsa nonprofits.
“For the past 25 years, the Tulsa office has provided comprehensive legal services to its clients, and we have also served our community by contributing our time and financial resources,” said James L. Kincaid, Crowe & Dunlevy director and founding member of the firm’s Tulsa office. “In recognition of this milestone, we are honored to present donations to these 25 outstanding Tulsa nonprofit organizations. Thank you to the entire Tulsa community for its support; we look forward to many more years of service to our clients and to the Tulsa community.”
2017
To keep up regional demands, Crowe & Dunlevy opens an office in Dallas.