Mannford resident Don Nelson has recently added a responsibility to his every-day duties which makes him very busy and active. His days begin around 8 a.m. and last until 6 p.m., unless he has city court or some other activity that requires his time.
Nelson, 41, who has had his law practice in Mannford for 13 years, was recently appointed part-time Assistant District Attorney for Creek County by newly elected Lantz McClain. He is helped out by Joe Sam Vassar, who has his office in Bristow, along with the full-time staff in Sapulpa.
He handles court cases north of Highway 33 from Tulsa to Payne County. Cases range from traffic tickets to bogus check writing to stolen vehicles.
His court days are Tuesday and Thursday and in court last Thursday, in front of the Honorable Bill Wilson in Drumright, Nelson heard many cases, many excuses and a non-jury tiral. Some of the excuses were outlandish and Nelson recommended the full penalty.
One case a man charged with speeding claimed he had his rear-end recently replaced and it apparently threw his speedometer off.
Another case was that of a husband and wife, apparetnly, who had been charged with bogus check writing. The couple tried to cash a forged check at Phelps for over $450. The woman had four alias. Judge Wilson read the couple their rights and set a preliminary hearing for July 9. Both are unemployed and had the court appoint an attorney for them.
The non-jury trial which Nelson heard was a gentleman claiming he was only going 60 mph, when the Oklahoma Highway Patrol's radar read 75 mph.
Trooper Doug Nichols, who has 20 years of service with the OHP, testified he was speeding at the rate of 75 mph. The defendant claimed 60 mph and testified that his headlights were flashing off and on and that he was having to drive by the center lines in the road.
Judge Wilson ruled in favor of the court and fined the man $76.
After court, he usually will find time for lunch and travel back to Mannford to his office. Last Thursday, he was invited to speak at the Chamber of Commerce noon luncheon, so that was where he ate that day.
Nelson was born in Maui, Hawaii, but was raised in Hilo, the big island, and moved to the Washington, D.C. area when he was a sophomore in high school, where his mother still resides.
After high school, he attended the University of Virginia and then was inducted into the United States military and served in Vietnam as a paratrooper platoon leader.
On September 16, 1969, his troop was ambushed as they crossed a river, and he was shot in the leg. He has a 40 percent disability in his left leg.
"I lost five kids that morning," he remembered as we drove down Highway 33 to Drumright.
He recuperated in a Japanese hospital before he was released.
In 1970, Nelson entered law school at the University of Tulsa, graduating in 1973 with honors and moved to Mannford that next year.
Of course, there was a woman named Barbara in his life for 4 1/2 years, at the end of law school, and they raised a son, Baline, who spends each weekend with him. But the marriage has been over for nearly 10 years.
"I think I'm a confirmed bachelor," Nelson said. "I'm just glad I had a son . . . that was the greatest thing that ever happened to me."
Besides being an Assistant District Attorney, Nelson continues to work his own practice. He has three employees, Glenn Johnston, his office manager, Beveraly Vassar, his secretary and Bert Kline, his land man.
He also is an avid horse racing fan and has three horses racing at this time, two at Blue Ribbon Downs in Sallisaw and one at Ak-Sar-Ben. His favorite colors are red and black and that is what his jockeys wear. He states that Freddie K. Saliba is the responsible party for his love of horses.
"Saliba paid $18,000 for a horse and just gave her to me," he said. She, Oil Town Gal, is racing at Sallisaw.
Nelson has also taken part in many oil related activities, in which some, he has lost, but some he has gained. He has many real estate investments, owns the Nelson Building in Mannford, and is a former member of the the Board of Directors fot the Oilton Bank. He resigned from that position in January of this year.
At night, when he finally gets a chance to relax and get ready for his next day, he goes home, where anyone could relax and rest in this 2,450 square foot home.
If he's not ready to relax, he can play tennis in his back yard on his regulation-sized courts, or swim in his 16x32 pool, play pool, or Donkey Kong, or Sea Wolf, sit in his newly-built sauna or even jump in the hot tub.
"I can't do much more here," Nelson said in reference of building on to his home or possibly adding a golf course. "I'm out of land."
He is also a fanatic when it comes to guns or eagles. His home is furnished with many eagle art forms and he has an abundant number of guns throughout his house.
But no matter how much work or duty Nelson has to do you can bet that if he is needed for any reason, he's available.
PHOTOS:
Below, left: Nelson is shown in the Honorable Bill Wilson's court last Thursday as he hears several cases. Below, right: Nelson is home sweet home leaning against one of the four pillars of his porch.
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