Cowboy Way: John Kane IV
Friday, September 13, 2024
Media Contact: Mack Burke | Associate Director of Media Relations | 405-744-5540 | editor@okstate.edu
An active second-generation Oklahoma State University alumnus, Oklahoma Supreme Court Chief Justice M. John Kane IV comes from a long line of public servants.
His great-grandmother, Mabelle Kennedy, was the assistant secretary of the treasury in the Truman Administration. His great-grandfather, M. John Kane I, was on Oklahoma’s first Supreme Court.
Kane’s father earned an agricultural economics degree at OSU before pursuing a legal career. Following suit, Kane earned a double degree in agricultural economics and accounting, aiming to have diverse career options with the ultimate goal of attending law school. This family history and the program’s reputation for preparing students for law school solidified his determination.
The knowledge gained from the added accounting education was invaluable in his practice.
“The business acumen that you get from studying accounting was of great assistance to me, not only in managing my practice of law but in understanding my clients’ needs,” Kane said.
From his parents’ era on campus, to his own in the 1980s, Kane watched the construction of new residence halls and the expansion of the athletics complex.
Kane also fondly recalled meeting his wife, Cindy, at the university.
“We didn’t have any coursework that would have had us bump into each other, but they had a ‘fix up your roommate with a blind date’ party, and her roommate decided that I’d be the perfect guy to go on a blind date with her,” Kane said. “And the rest was history.”
A particularly special aspect of Kane’s journey was the opportunity to practice law alongside his father and grandfather. He cherished the mentorship received and the invaluable wisdom shared by his semi-retired attorney grandfather.
“It was the greatest privilege of my life to do that,” Kane said. “You just have a special bond when your partner is also your parent. Now, of course, you may tend to expect more of each other because of that family connection sometimes, but it’s so worth it.”
Looking toward the future, Kane hopes his grandchildren continue the family legacy at OSU to become fourth-generation Cowboys, following in the footsteps of two of his four children, Matthew and Patrick.
“You’re going to get more than an education,” Kane said. “You’re going to get an opportunity to develop authentic friendships that carry you throughout your life.”
Photo by: Gary Lawson
Story by: Mak Vandruff | STATE Magazine