Frank Howell Seay

Frank Howell Seay, 88, of Norman, Oklahoma, passed away peacefully on November 1, 2026 surrounded by his family. Frank was the son of Frank Pierce Seay, an attorney from Seminole, and Wilma Lynn Seay. He was born September 5, 1938 in Shawnee, Oklahoma. As a Seminole High School graduate (class of 1956), he was mentored by the legendary debate coach, H.B. Mitchell. He went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1961 where he was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. He then graduated from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 1963. He was a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association and the American Bar Association.

Frank began his legal career in Seminole, where he practiced law with his father from 1963 to 1966. He then served as Seminole County attorney. He later served as assistant district attorney and as a district judge in Oklahoma's 22nd Judicial District. In 1979, President Jimmy Carter appointed him to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. He served 37 years on the bench, including 16 years as Chief Judge, before retiring on December 31, 2016.

A defining chapter in a career devoted to justice under the law, in 1994, Frank was instrumental in reversing a miscarriage of justice by halting the scheduled execution of Ron Williamson, a death-row inmate. This case later became the subject of John Grisham's best selling book, The Innocent Man. His careful review led to the overturning of Williamson's conviction and sentence, and Williamson was freed in 1999. He is quoted as attaching to an epilogue of his legal opinion: “God help us if ever in this great country we turn our heads while people who have not had fair trials are executed. That almost happened in this case.”

Frank was a lifelong OU football fan and university donor. His time supporting OU athletics began when he traveled with assistant coach Larry Lacewell on an OU football visit to recruit the Selmon brothers in Eufaula.

Frank loved everyone from his favorite city of Seminole, the First United Methodist Church’s Stepping Stones Sunday School Class, the wild and crazy Bridge Club, the Courthouses in Wewoka and Muskogee, his Seminole High School debate team, OU football, and the OU Law School.

He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years Janet Crum Seay; daughters, Laura Seay and Trudy Seay Wheeler, and her husband Jim Wheeler. Frank’s three grandchildren, Kate, Ava and Luke Wheeler, lovingly called him “Pop.”

Services will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Seminole on Friday, November 6 at 2:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the First United Methodist Church of Seminole (910 W. Wrangler Blvd, Seminole, OK 74868) or the University of Oklahoma Foundation (100 Timberdell Rd. Norman, OK 73019).