Gary Cortland Rawlinson

Gary Cortland Rawlinson was born on July 2, 1941 in Champaign, Illinois. He died on August 14, 2022 in his house near Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Gary was the only child of Ken and Sally Rawlinson, both of whom predeceased Gary. Gary was a beloved husband, father, and grandfather. He was an accomplished and well-respected attorney but took a greater joy from being with his family, a fly rod in his hand and a dog by his side.

Gary moved to Norman in 1952 when his father accepted Bud Wilkinson’s offer to become the Athletic Trainer at the University of Oklahoma. Gary graduated from Norman High School in 1959. While in high school he, along with his lifelong friend, Jay Wilkinson, served as captains of Gene Corrotto’s first football team at NHS.

Gary graduated from OU in 1963 with a BA in political science. While at OU Gary proudly served as Treasurer and then President of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Upon graduation he was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the USMC.

Gary attended Cornell University Law School, graduating from Cornell in 1966. While at Cornell Gary managed the Law School Bookstore and was elected Vice President of his graduating class. After graduation, Gary returned to Norman and practiced for many years with Jack Luttrell and Buddy Pendarvis. Upon Jack Luttrell’s death, Gary and Buddy joined the Crowe & Dunlevy law firm and anchored its newly formed Norman office. Gary retired from the law practice at the end of 2018. During his many years of law practice Gary served as President of the Cleveland County Bar Association, Adjunct Professor of Law at OU Law School, lecturer at many OBA sponsored seminars and was a member of the Professional Responsibility Tribunal of the OBA. In 1970 Gary was selected as the Outstanding Young Lawyer in the State by the OBA. He was also elected to the prestigious American College of Real Estate Lawyers.

In 1968 Gary married the love of his life, Suzy Dulaney. Gary and Suzy were rarely apart and they were blessed with three children. Gary was a devoted father and formed great memories coaching the kids’ sports teams, enjoying the trials and tribulations of youth soccer, baseball, basketball and football. He loved his time coaching, among others, the Purple Penguins, the Ghostbusters, and the McKinley Hornets. He always had time for a game of catch, to jump in the pool, or provide assistance with school. His love of Oklahoma football was passed along to his children, and the family rarely missed a game. The children have wonderful memories of cross-country road trips and their time in Colorado.

Gary and Suzy enjoyed traveling and took many a cruise with dear friends across Europe, England and Canada. In particular, Gary considered himself very fortunate to have fly fished the rivers and streams of Alaska, Patagonia, Montana, Wyoming, New Mexico, and his home stream in Colorado. He found immense joy in his Colorado mountain retreat where he perfected his fly fishing technique while surrounded by Suzy, his kids and grandkids, his friends, his loyal fishing pups Trout and Fenway, and plenty of hungry trout.

Gary also found great joy from his three grandchildren, Cortland, Jax, and Dyer. He loved his trips to Houston to watch them play sports, perform at school, or just sit on his lap and watch a game with Papa. He introduced them to his love for Colorado with fishing trips, horse back rides, and long Jeep trips into town where Papa would pay a dollar for every deer that was spotted.

His beloved wife Suzy passed away in 2019, ending a wonderful 51 years of marriage. He is survived by his children Matt and his wife Evie of Houston, Lindy of Dallas, and Peter of Oklahoma City, as well as his cherished grandchildren Cortland, Jax, and Dyer of Houston. The family thanks Sally Smith for her support and friendship with Gary the last couple of years.

Gary led a full and happy life, enjoying his family, friends, clients and law partners. He shared in the ups and downs of the Sooners and the Red Sox, but win or lose, he always appreciated ending the day with a single malt scotch and a view of the distant mountains turning pink as the sun slowly set.

A Memorial Service will be held on August 20, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. at McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers the family suggests remembering Gary with a donation to the Ken Rawlinson Endowment for student athletic trainers at the University of Oklahoma or the columbarium fund at McFarlin Methodist Church. Checks made payable to the “OU Foundation” can be mailed to: The University of Oklahoma Foundation, P.O. Box 258856, Oklahoma City, OK 73125-8856. McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church, PO Box 6390, Norman, OK 73070.