I am especially proud of the Founder of our Law Firm and my Law Partner, Mike Sullivan.  Mike asked my Dad, Doug Sanders, Sr., to be his Law partner back in 1972 and established Sullivan & Sanders, Attorneys at Law, in the DIAL Building on Dewey Avenue in downtown Poteau.  The DIAL building is across the street from the current Law Office location. There has been some variation of Sullivan and Sanders or Sanders and Sullivan for more than 50 years now in the legal profession in LeFlore County, spanning 2 generations of the Sullivan and Sanders families. Mike's brother, Don Sullivan, also practiced Law in Poteau before his passing.  Milke's Son, Jonathan K. Sullivan, currently serves as the District Judge for Judicial District 16 consisting of LeFlore, Latimer and Haskell Counties in Oklahoma.  My Son, Johnathan Scott Sanders is a third generation Lawyer from the Sanders family and practices Law with the Whitten Burrage Law Firm in Oklahoma City.  

Mike Sullivan has been a role model and mentor to me in all aspects of my life.  While Mike is retired after having actively practiced Law in LeFlore County for 55 + years, we still consult on cases on a regular basis and if I need some advice or direction on a legal matter, Mike always gets me pointed in the right direction with his wise, experienced legal analysis and thinking.  Every now and then I am still able to talk him into letting me actually list him as an Attorney with me in a case.

Mike is the ultimate example of a public servant.  His service and giving of himself to the citizens of LeFlore County over the years cannot be matched in LeFlore County.  Mike was the youngest ever First Majority Whip when he served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives.  His legislation laid the groundwork for CASC.  He served on the Poteau School Board and was President the year I graduated Poteau High School in 1976.  He served as LeFlore and Latimer County District Attorney.  The list of Mike's achievements goes on and on, but his single greatest accomplishment was capturing the heart of a young Kay McCoy from Heavener who spent 55 years as his life partner.

Mike's legal expertise was in black lung cases and there are plenty of LeFlore County coal miners who Mike helped get compensation for this deadly disease.  I could go on and on about Mike and the Sullivan family.  I am just really proud and honored to be his Law partner and thankful for his huge presence in my life and having a legacy with Mike for over 50 years now in the Law Firm he established back in 1972.