Class of 1959
(Notes posted in the order they were received, with the newest posts on top.)
R. Grafton Brown was among several Vanderbilt Law alumni who have been listed as "Best Lawyers in America" each year for the entire 25 years the listing has been published. Others including Bill Ozier '69, Ted Pappas '49, James Gooch '67, Jim Cheek '67, Jim Neal '57, Aubrey Harwell Jr. '71 and Mike Kaplan '71. Posted 6-17-09
Dewey C. Whitenton died on February 12, 2009. Dewey earned both his B.A. and his J.D. at Vanderbilt. He served six years in the Army and the Tennessee National Guard. He practiced law in his home town of Bolivar, Tennessee, for more than 17 years and served as county attorney before his appointment to the bench as Chancellor Court Judge of the 25th Judicial District of Tennessee. He was active in the ABA's Judicial Division and the National Conference of State Trial Judges for more than 25 years, and served as Chairman of the task force on State Judicial Associations. He was appointed by the Tennessee State Legislature and the Governor to serve on a commission on the Uniform Probate Code, which recommended changes in Tennessee probate laws. He retired from the bench after 30 years of service in 2006, and after retirement, remained active as Bolivar City Attorney and as a Rule 31 mediator. Judge Whitenton was involved with numerous civic and charitable organizations in Bolivar and surrounding areas. He is survived by his wife, Carol Ann, their three children, and five grandchildren. Posted 3-3-09
Richard Tennent's novel, Destroyermen: Three Minutes to War, has just been published by Book Surge LTD, a subsidiary of Amazon.com. Richard's book is a navy adventure set during the Suez Canal Crisis, the Hungarian uprising, and the struggle between the U.S. and Soviet Russian for domination of the Mediterranean Sea. Richard practiced law in the Detroit area for 40 years, focusing on banking, business and real estate law, and served briefly as an adjunct professor of law at Wayne State University School of Law in Detroit, where he taught senior-level classes addressing the Uniform Commercial Code, creditors' rights and real property financing. He met his wife, Patricia, at Vanderbilt, where she earned her nursing degree in 1956. The Tennents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in August 2008. Richard and Patricia have three children and 10 grandchildren. Patricia, who served as a nurse at Harper Grace Hospital in Detroit and at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan, continues to serve in Beaumont Hospital's Parenting Program. The Tennents live in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Posted 1-13-09
James G. "Jamie" Stuart died on April 5, 2008, after a brief illness. A long-time Chicago-area resident, his law career included executive roles with Cox Enterprises and Field Enterprises. He served as chairman of Field Communications Corp. from 1977 to 1980 after serving for five years as its Executive Vice President. Beginning in 1988, he focused his practice on advising physicians on financial and business matters. As a law student, he served on the editorial staff of the Vanderbilt Law Review, and he earned an LL.M. in taxation from New York University in 1962. He served in the United States Air Force as a single-engine fighter pilot from 1955 to 1956, rising to the rank of Captain, and then served in the Tennessee Air National Guard from 1956 to 1959. Jamie was a dedicated performer playing the clarinet and served as a board member of the Chicago Chamber Musicians, as a governing member of the Chicago Symphony, and as president of Arts at Large. He completed the Mrs. T's Chicago Triathlon in 1997 at the age of 65. He is survived by his wife, Karen Zupko Stuart, and a son and a daughter.
William Jerry Parker, 74, died Friday, January, 19, 2007, following a brief illness. A lifelong resident of Bowling Green, he graduated from Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green College of Commerce, and Vanderbilt University Law School. Mr. Parker was admitted to the Kentucky and Tennessee Bars in 1959 and the U.S. Supreme Court in 1966. He was a member of HarlinParker Law Firm. He served on the Kentucky Bar Association Board of Governors (1969-1982), as President of the Kentucky Bar Association (1980-1981), and as Chairman of the KBA Continuing Legal Education Commission (1983-89). He was also a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. In addition to his legal career, he was for many years a part-time instructor at Western. At his death, he was co-chairman of Albany Bancshares and on the board of directors of First National Bank of Columbia. He was an active Rotarian, serving as president of the Noon Rotary Club; District Governor for District 6710 of Rotary International; a Paul Harris Fellow; and national permanent fund advisor for The Rotary Foundation. Survivors include his wife, Eva Jane Martin Parker; two daughters, Jane Beth McCarty (Matt), of St. Louis, MO, and Jo Lynch (David) of Knoxville, TN; two sons, William Jerry Parker, Jr. (Claudia) of Colleyville, TX, and Frederick Smith Parker (Amy) of Charlotte, NC; and nine grandchildren Currin, Parker, John McCarty; Charlotte, Will, and Hayden Parker; Jack Lynch; and Alex and Libby Parker.
Bob Youngerman writes a weekly opinion column for The Asheville Citizen-Times in Asheville, North Carolina.
Do you have news you would like to share or just want to let everyone know what you are up to these days? Submit your class note online, e-mail Grace Renshaw or call 615-322-2606.
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