Inducted in 2024
Patrick Waddel began his college experience on a wrestling scholarship at the University of Pittsburg. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Tulsa and his law degree from Southern Methodist University where he was the editor of the law journal. Before entering private practice in Tulsa, he served as Senior Law Clerk to the Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Missouri. Pat entered private practice in Dallas, Texas before returning to Tulsa where he has been in private practice since 1970. He is a member of the Bar Associations of Tulsa County, as well as a member of the Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas Bar Assosciations. He is also a member of the Supreme Court of the United States and numerous Federal District and Circuit Courts.
In 1980, Mr. Waddel was appointed as a Commissioner of the Tulsa Development Authority serving for 25 years, including 10 years as chairman. He was instrumental in transforming areas of the Tulsa community that had fallen into economic and structural decline. During that time, he provided guidance for street and utility infrastructure improvements in north Tulsa, and assisted in providing tax incentives for districts such as Brady Arts, the Blue Dome District, the Village at Central Park, and the downtown Technology District including the addition of the downtown Home Depot. He was also instrumental in the development of OSU’s Tulsa campus and housing for the University of Tulsa. His efforts led to the redevelopment of the Greenwood Central Business District and downtown housing. He supported the revitalization of the Kendall-Whittier area which resulted in the building of a new Kendall-Whittier school, park, library and post office with new housing, street improvement, landscaping, and infrastructure improvements.
His role in developing a concept known as “Uptown Urbanism” revitalized downtown Tulsa and those neighborhoods and communities surrounding the area creating a new life for the City of Tulsa.
Attorney, City Innovator
