Common ground is this man’s specialty

By Doug Russell
News Editor

April 06, 2007 10:43 am

— He’s a winner who doesn’t let age slow him down.
McAlester resident James Ward was recently honored as the Mediation Volunteer of the Year at the annual Early Settlement Volunteer Conference in Oklahoma City. Two weeks later he was honored with a special lunch by the Oklahoma Bar Association.
“He’s one of three mediators I have and they’re all wonderful,” said Special Judge Donnita Wynn, adding that Ward, Nancy Gates and Chris Taylor are tremendous assets to the court.
On small claims cases, for example, in which people normally don’t hire attorneys, mediation can be extremely helpful. Generally, mediators can work out a deal that satisfies both parties in a case, easing the burden on the courts.
Born in Stringtown and raised largely in Muskogee, Ward lived in Texas for years before returning to Oklahoma and eventually settling in McAlester. A retired attorney, Ward “is an inspiration to senior citizens in our community,” said Gates, the office manager for Early Settlement Mediation.
“He not only does mediation of small claims cases every Wednesday in Judge Wynn’s courtroom, but also does divorce and child custody mediation for the nine counties our office serves.
“Here’s a man in his mid 80s who’s really doing something good for his community.”
In addition, she said, Ward serves as an ombudsman for some area nursing homes and, last year, donated even more of his time to help an attorney who was battling cancer.
“(The mediators) were here before I got here and Judge Bland told me just how wonderful they were,” Wynn said. “He was right. They’re all outstanding.”
Ward in particular “has a wonderful success rate,” Wynn said. “I don’t know what it is, but he’s able to sit down with both sides and have everybody leave satisfied.”