Class of 1961
(Notes posted in the order they were received, with the newest posts on top.)
David Louis Simpson III died May 23, 2009, in Memphis. He began his practice of law in Memphis as an assistant city attorney. He was an associate with Larkey Dudley Blanchard and McRae. In 1968 he joined the legal department at Conwood Corporation, where he became Secretary and General Counsel. He retired from Conwood in 2001 after 33 years. David served on the Board of the Memphis Pink Palace for a number of years, acting as its legal counsel and was instrumental in obtaining the museum's IMAX Theater. He was a past president of the Rhodes Alumni Association for Rhodes College, a former member of the MIFA Development Board and was a longtime member of Idlewild Presbyterian Church. He is survivied by his wife of 50 years, Beth, their three children, and six grandchildren. Posted 6-17-09
Judge Jonathan J. Robertson II died October 13, 2008, at his home. Jonathan served in United States Army and then earned a bachelor of science degree from Indiana University in 1954. He served as senior judge of the Indiana Court of Appeals 1971-1997, chief judge of Indiana Court of Appeals 1975-1978, Jackson County Circuit Court Judge 1965-1970, counsel to Indiana General Assembly's House of Representatives 1963, Jackson County prosecuting attorney 1963-1964, and was in private law practice in Seymour from 1961-1964. He is surved by his wife, Virginia Bundy, two sons, a daughter and four grandchildren. Posted 11-3-08
Jon Rickert died June 9, 2008, at his home in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Jon earned his undergraduate degree in business and economics in 1958 from Indiana University, and after earning his law degree at Vanderbilt, he began his 30-year career in the general practice of law in Elizabethtown. From 1968-1972, he served with distinction in the Kentucky General Assembly, representing the 25th District. He was not only voted by the news media as the most outstanding freshman legislator, but he also sponsored Kentucky's first "truth-in-lending" law and led the fight in Kentucky's state capital, Frankfort, and in Washington, D.C. to save the Red River Gorge. A dedicated birder and naturalist, Jon wrote the Nature Preserves Act, which established the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission, and he served as its chairman from 1976-1988. He acted as special advisor on environmental affairs to Kentucky Governor Julian Carroll and was a member of the Kentucky Environmental Quality Commission. In 1973, he was a founding member of the American Birding Association and he also served as the organization's attorney. In 1978, he wrote and published A Guide to North American Bird Clubs. He was a life member of The Nature Conservancy. Throughout his life, Jon traveled to Australia, Canada, China, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Mexico, New Zealand, Nova Scotia, United Kingdom, and all 50 states on birding trips. In 2004, he was selected by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to join the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker search team in the swamps of Arkansas for a two-week expedition. Jon is survived by his wife, Bobbie, their son and two daughters, and five grandchildren.Posted on web 8-26-08Senator Jim Sasser was named the Independent Director of GreenHunter Energy.
John H. Henderson is retiring after serving for 17 years as a public defender for the 21st Judicial District. Before becoming a public defender, John was an attorney in private practice in Franklin, Tennessee, from 1961-1966 and 1972-1989 and served as general counsel to Tennessee River Pulp and Paper Company from 1966-1972. John and his wife, Nell, have two children; John H. Henderson III, who is an attorney, and Loyd T. Henderson, who is a loan officer; and four grandchildren. They live in Franklin, Tennessee.
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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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