DAVID A. WHALEY, J.D. - 'THE LAW DAWC'

  David A. Whaley- THE LAW DAWC was born and raised in Stephens County, Oklahoma. As a child, David was severely asthmatic and allergic to virtually everything, to the point of spending two Christmases in the hospital before the age of 10 and took years of allergy shots to build his immunity. Living in the country, his parents worried about him spending too much time outdoors and having possible asthma attacks, which led to a lot of time inside. His mother, not wanting to curtail his curiosity about the world, enrolled David in a Book Club at a young age, and reading investigative novels became David’s favorite pastime. David had first mentioned possibly being a lawyer when he was still a kid.

In high school, David set out to continue the family legacy of award-winning basketball players. Years of Basketball Camps and countless hours doing drills had David well positioned to continue this trend, which he did by making the Varsity Team as a sophomore and starting his final two seasons, which ended in an Honorable Mention Academic All State Recognition. But something more interesting intervened in David’s journey just before starting his Sophomore year of high school. 

The new Cross Country Coach had seen David running up and down the Basketball Court and ended up giving David a phone call to encourage him to come out and run. The Coach told him, just come to one practice and listen to what I have to say and run with the team, and if you’re not interested then I won’t bother you anymore. The Coach spoke of All State Awards, State Championships, and going beyond what you think is possible for yourselves. David’s parents were worried about his Asthma and participating in strenuous running. David’s Doctor wasn’t pleased with the idea but medically cleared him to participate. David had a determined mind to face adversity head on and with his brother’s encouragement, David took up the challenge.

David would go on to finish as the State Runner up in Cross Country and lead his team to the State Title, the first of Three in a row. David would go on to become an Individual State Champion in Cross Country and Track multiple times and set a State Meet Record. The Asthma was challenging all the time, but David was growing stronger from confronting the challenge. Among the many honors David achieved in high school, he was especially proud of receiving the Bob R. Williams award from the OSSAA, for an athlete to overcome a disability.

David would end up running Cross Country and Track in college on scholarship, where despite still battling Asthma, he would go on to Medal at 5 National Championships, earn All American Honors in both Cross Country and Track, and was a Member of a National Championship Team.

After college, David moved to Colorado to train under an Olympic Coach and run professionally, representing the Reebok Vigilantes Track Club. Both the Altitude and cold weather were triggers for an Asthma attack. But David’s visit with the Coach’s doctor resulted in him taking less medication, not more, and confronting the altitude and cold directly. David’s determination and training eventually led to the result of essentially not having Asthma anymore. Although injuries contributed to David not reaching his ultimate goal of running in the Olympics, he did compete at the U.S. Nationals. During his time running professionally, David trained side by side with multiple men who did run in the Olympics and held his own for over two years with some of the best runners in the world, before hanging up the spikes.

David had studied Exercise Physiology and Education and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He had been coached by three separate men who would end up in Coaching Hall of Fames at the High School, Collegiate, and National level. The lessons he learned from them and from facing challenges directly led him into Teaching and Coaching, at the Junior High, High School, and Collegiate levels for 15 years. David received numerous awards as an Educator and Coach, and coached a multitude of championship teams and individuals, some of which would go on to achieve success in athletics at the college and professional level. David was most proud of how many of his student-athletes found that drive within themselves, to stare down a challenge and give it their best, in all areas of their lives.

Coaching and Teaching students all those years, and encouraging them to pursue their goals, resonated with David over time, and there was one goal he had never pursued, going to law school. David would end up going back to Law School and earning his degree and passing the bar, while having to commute back and forth and work.

David began working for a local firm in Comanche County doing Criminal Defense and Family Law. David would eventually move over to working at the District Attorney’s Office for a few years, before going back to work privately in Comanche County. David also has served a stint working as the Deputy General Counsel for a Government Agency. David has been a  highly successful Trial attorney in all three of his Legal Positions.

The Sum of the story is this: David has never backed down from a challenge, stands firm and gives it his best, and has found success in all stages and areas of his life. David is committed to being the best he can be, and to helping others who need guidance, from the Wisdom gathered from many years of adversity in his life, to having many great mentors who have given him solid guidance, to having the support of his family in helping people who need help. David is a Lawyer that you can trust, to do his best, to help you with your legal issue.

Written by:

Elaina W./Analyst