Biography
Tom Colbert was born on December 30, 1949, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He was raised in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, by his mother and grandparents and graduated from Sapulpa High School. He earned his associates degree from Eastern Oklahoma State College in 1970 before enrolling at Kentucky State University.
While at Kentucky State, he was named All-Conference in track and field. After graduating from Kentucky State with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1973, he served in the United States Army (Criminal Investigation Division and the All-Army Track Team) and received an honorable discharge in 1975. In 1976, Colbert obtained a Master of Education degree from Eastern Kentucky University. Thereafter, he taught middle school in inner-city Chicago and served as a recreation specialist at McCormick’s Boys Club.
While at Kentucky State, he was named All-Conference in track and field. After graduating from Kentucky State with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1973, he served in the United States Army (Criminal Investigation Division and the All-Army Track Team) and received an honorable discharge in 1975. In 1976, Colbert obtained a Master of Education degree from Eastern Kentucky University. Thereafter, he taught middle school in inner-city Chicago and served as a recreation specialist at McCormick’s Boys Club.
Colbert attended a law school at night in Illinois for four years while teaching during the day. During the month of graduation from the law school, the graduating class at the school was told that the law school would not get State approval or ABA approval to take the State Bar Examination. Therefore, he had to start all over at the University of Oklahoma Law School.
Justice Colbert then returned to Oklahoma, where he received his juris doctorate from the University of Oklahoma in 1982. He was an Assistant Dean at Marquette University Law School from 1982 1984 and served as an Assistant District Attorney in Oklahoma County from 1984 1986, before going into private law practice at Miles LaGrange & Colbert from 1986 1989. He then worked in private practice with Colbert and Associates from 1989 2000. He also served as an attorney for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services from 1988 89 and again in 1999. |
Justice Colbert at the Oklahoma Hall of Fame Ceremony, 2017
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Justice Colbert was appointed to the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals in 2000 and served as Chief Judge of that Court in 2004. On October 7, 2004, Governor Brad Henry appointed Justice Colbert to the Supreme Court of Oklahoma.
Justice Colbert was the first African American on the Oklahoma Court of the Civil Appeals and the first African American on the Supreme Court of Oklahoma. On January 1, 2013, Justice Colbert made Oklahoma history again by becoming the first African American to serve as Chief Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court.
Now retired, Tom Colbert currently lives with his wife in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Justice Colbert was the first African American on the Oklahoma Court of the Civil Appeals and the first African American on the Supreme Court of Oklahoma. On January 1, 2013, Justice Colbert made Oklahoma history again by becoming the first African American to serve as Chief Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court.
Now retired, Tom Colbert currently lives with his wife in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.