Reford Bond

Born August 10, 1877, in Johnsonville, Indian Territory, to famous cattleman James Bond and Adelaide (Johnson) Bond, Reford Bond lived a life of leadership and service to the Chickasaw Nation and the state of Oklahoma. In 1899, Bond became an attorney after attending Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia, and Columbian (now George Washington) University in Washington, D.C., and he cofounded the Bond & Melton law firm. Known as a gifted trial lawyer in Indian Territory and Washington, D.C., Bond was appointed National Attorney for the Chickasaw Nation in 1913 and represented the tribe for eight years during the administration of President Woodrow Wilson.

He served in numerous civic, government and organizational positions. In the 1920s he served as president of the Oklahoma State Election Board and was appointed Special Justice to the Supreme Court of Oklahoma. A strong advocate of Oklahoma education, Bond was appointed chairman to the Coordinating Board of Oklahoma to organize and unify higher education and he served as a trustee on the William H. Murray Education Foundation.

Bond's leadership was also instrumental in guiding and protecting Oklahoma's oil industry. He was elected to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission in 1934 and served as chairman of the energy-regulating body. He remained on the commission until his death in 1954. In addition, Bond was a member of the National Conference of Petroleum Regulatory Authorities and the Oklahoma representative on the Inter-State Oil Compact Commission.