Our Arklahoma Heritage: Oklahoma legal eagle, county judge traced his roots to Izard County, Arkansas

In the sleepy town of Westville in Adair County, the name William Lester “Willis” Chase still resonates with dignity and civic pride.

A man whose life witnessed the transition from Indian Territory to statehood, Chase’s legacy as a county judge and community leader remains a cornerstone of local history.

Born on December 29, 1880, in Izard County, Arkansas, Chase was the youngest of eight children raised by William Darius and Adaline Harrison Spruell Chase. His upbringing in a devout Christian household instilled values of integrity and service that would guide his legal and political career.

His parents, buried in Elizabeth Cemetery in Fulton County, Arkansas, were remembered for their commitment to faith and family.

Chase’s legal journey began with his admission to the bar in the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Indian Territory on November 4, 1904, a pivotal moment that placed him at the forefront of Oklahoma’s legal transformation.

Just three years later, in 1907, he moved to Westville, coinciding with Oklahoma’s statehood.

There, he established a law practice that quickly earned him respect for his fairness and diligence.

His political alignment with the Oklahoma Democratic Party amplified his influence, as he advocated for policies that supported rural development and legal accessibility. His reputation for impartiality and compassion laid the groundwork for his appointment as Adair County Judge on June 5, 1939, following the death of Judge Harry Winsor.

Chase was later elected to two full terms, serving until his own death in 1943.

Chase’s personal life was equally rooted in community. In 1909, he married Lula Phillips, daughter of Abraham and Mary Kansas Christison Phillips of Benton County, Arkansas. The couple raised one daughter, Ahnawake Chase, in Westville. Lula remained a respected figure in the town until her passing in 1974 at Tulsa’s Doctors Hospital.

Despite his professional achievements, Chase’s final years were marked by declining health.

On June 1, 1943, he died suddenly of a heart attack at his home in Westville. The news stunned the community, and was followed by further sorrow when his brother, Wilson Alexander Chase, suffered a paralytic stroke days later in Tulsa.

Funeral services were held on June 3, 1943, at Roberts Funeral Home, led by Rev. T. DeWitt Sankey of the local Baptist church.

The ceremony drew a large crowd, a testament to the respect Chase commanded. He was laid to rest in Westville Cemetery, where Lula would later join him.