Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr’s lifelong commitment to the Sigma Chi Fraternity in 1963 was fully recognized June 24, 2017 in Providence, Rhode Island.
Site of the fraternity’s 81st Annual Grand Chapter, Fry joined elite and exclusive company when he was honored with the Significant Sig Award for his professional achievements and devotion to Sigma Chi since his initiation into the fraternity in 1963.
The Fry & Elder partner and Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year for Family Law in Tulsa 2016 is now a member of the same exclusive club that includes John Wayne, Brad Pitt, David Letterman, J. Willard Marriott Jr., Woody Harrelson and a host of other distinguished Sigma Chi’s who have garnered the Significant Sig Award over the years.
“I have been fortunate to be recognized with some very nice and heartfelt honors and awards over the years,” Fry (Gamma Psi 1964; Delta Omega 1967) said. “This one ranks way, way up there with any award I’ve ever received. You look at the people who have been recognized as Significant Sigs and just see how successful and well known they are – it’s pretty impressive.”
Sigma Chi began in 1855 and in 1935 the fraternity incorporated the Significant Sig Award as the well-known fraternity’s first major honor. Less than one-half of one percent of Sigma Chi initiates receive the Significant Sig Award.
Fry was accompanied at the Grand Chapter event by his youngest daughter Ashley Derdzinski, her husband Seth Derdzinski and friend Sharon Miller.
“It was a great event – they really did it up right,” Ashley Derdzinski said. “Growing up I always knew how much Sigma Chi and its values have meant to my dad. To see him receive such special recognition from his fraternity was a very special thing to be a part of and witness. His whole family and I are extremely proud of him.”
During a 2016 reunion trip back to his undergraduate (Gamma Psi) chapter at Michigan State University, Fry said the chapter’s undergraduates and some alums said they were going to nominate him for the honor.
“I told them that was fine, but I wasn’t going to be nominating myself,” Fry said. “I really didn’t think there was a chance I’d get it.”
Fry was notified in early 2017 that he would in fact be receiving the honor in June. That Fry garnered the coveted Significant Sig Award really is not shocking. He has excelled in a number of different arenas throughout his life.
He was an Oklahoma high school state champion wrestler at Tulsa Edison Preparatory School before moving on to Michigan State and wrestling for the Spartans. After a successful college wrestling career, Fry then turned his focus to academics and graduated with his J.D. from the University of Tulsa College of Law.
Fry quickly established himself as a prestigious and elite Tulsa divorce and child custody attorney. He is one of only 19 attorneys in Oklahoma to be a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He also is AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® and has garnered Best Lawyers® and Super Lawyers® accolades since 2011 and 2007, respectively.
Fry, along with the Oklahoma law firm’s 11 other highly-decorated attorneys, have helped Fry & Elder establish itself as a nationally-recognized firm. The U.S. News & World Report named the iconic Oklahoma law firm to its Best Law Firm’s list from 2014-2017. Contact Fry & Elder Tulsa or Fry & Elder Oklahoma City today to set up a personal consultation with Fry or another experienced and accomplished Oklahoma trial lawyer.