Harold Lee Heiple

Long time Norman attorney Harold Lee Heiple died in Norman, Oklahoma on October 20th, 2020. The only child of H. and N Heiple, Harold was born in Oklahoma City on March 12, 1935. Harold attended Oklahoma City Public Schools until ninth grade when his family moved. He graduated high school in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1952.
He returned to Oklahoma and became a proud Sooner when he enrolled at the University of Oklahoma. He completed his undergraduate degree in 1956 and was commissioned into the Air Force to which he committed for a three-year active duty term. He later returned to school and graduated from the University of Oklahoma Law School in 1962. He was admitted to the Oklahoma and North Dakota bars June 1962.
Harold began his active law practice in Norman in 1962 and retired in 2019. He served as an initial founding member of the OU Associate Plan and of the Norman Public School Foundation and Norman American Legion Baseball, Inc. He served as the Board Attorney for Moore Norman Technology Center for 40 years and served as the Board Attorney for Oklahoma Electric Cooperative for 35 years. He served as Board Attorney for Norman Developers Association for 25 years. He was a member of Norman City Council for two years in 1969 and 1970. He chaired or co-chaired 5 Norman City Charter Review Committees. He was author of the ordinance requiring developers to contribute lands for public use parks; a great legacy for our community. With city staff, he was co-author of the Norman city ordinance regarding commercial signage ordinances. A very large portion of his law practice was dedicated to representation of property owners petitioning Norman city council for permission to redesign their privately owned property.
Harold met Kathleen Marie O’Leary in 1962 and the two married on November 24, 1962. The two have dedicated their lives to serving Norman ever since. Harold and Kathy have contributed a great amount to Norman’s non-profit organizations including Health for Friends and Food and Shelter for Friends. Harold and Kathy also contributed a great deal of time and resources to Norman’s youth sports leagues and the University of Oklahoma Foundation. They are active members of St. Thomas More Catholic Church.
Harold was preceded in death by both parents. He is survived by his wife Kathleen, daughter and son-in-law Laura and David Knutty of Rocklin, California, son and daughter-in-law Greg and April Heiple of Norman and son Scott Heiple of Norman along with seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He is also survived by brother-in-law and his wife Tom and Karen O’Leary, Cousin Dick Cohoon and wife Mary and several nieces and nephews.
Harold has been a continuously dedicated member of the Norman community; a community to which will be forever grateful for Harold’s service. A mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Thomas More on Friday October 30th 2020 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made to St. Thomas More St. Vincent de Paul Society or Food and Shelter for Friends.