James Jones

Madison - James E. Jones, Jr., emeritus professor of law at the University of Wisconsin, died peacefully on Friday, November 21, 2014 at Attic Angel Place, following a lengthy illness. He was 90.

Jim served in the U.S. Navy during World War II from 1943 until 1946. Jim graduated Magna Cum Laude from Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri in 1950, with a B.A. in Political Science. In 1951, he received an M.A. from the University of Illinois Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations, and then worked as an Analyst for the U.S. Wage Stabilization Board in Chicago. Jim received a Juris Doctorate from the University of Wisconsin in 1956.

Jim began his legal career with the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington D.C. as a Legislative Attorney, and served in several capacities, finally as an Associate Solicitor of Labor. Jim left the Department of Labor to join the faculty of the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1969, where he served as Professor of Law and Industrial Relations, until his retirement in 1993. Early in his tenure, he originated the William H. Hastie Teaching Fellowship program. In 1991, he was named Nathan P. Feinsinger Professor of Labor Law.

As an emeritus professor, Jim continued to teach labor law and labor arbitration. He could often be found teaching impromptu lessons in law school and life in various corners of the building.

Jim was a dedicated public servant, serving on the Public Review Board International Union, UAW, The Labor Law Group, and The National Academy of Arbitrators, to name a few. He was appointed to the Federal Service Impasses Panel by President Carter, and served two terms on the Madison Police and Fire Commission. Jim was a member of the Wisconsin State Bar and National Bar Associations, and was a life member of the NAACP and the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. Jim also served for many years on the UW Athletic Board, and enjoyed many sports, especially football.

Jim was born on June 4, 1924 in Little Rock, AR. He married Joan Turner on May 6, 1960, in Washington, D.C. He was preceded in death by his mother and stepfather, Alice E. Cummings Truman and Beverly C. Truman, and his sister, Ida Ruth Morton. Jim is survived by his wife of 54 years, Joan T. Jones; a daughter, Evan W. Jones, a son Peter R.C. (Alanna Kessler-Jones) Jones and his grandson, Spencer James Kessler-Jones. Jim was an avid reader, runner, and tennis player, and he enjoyed rigorous discussion and debate about current events.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 21, 2015 at the Sheraton Madison Hotel, 706 John Nolen Drive, Madison.

Memorials in Jim's name may be made to the University of Wisconsin Law School General Fund and the UW Law School Legal Education Opportunities Program, www.supportuw.org or by mail at 1848 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53726-4090; Agrace HospiceCare, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI 53711; or United Negro College Fund, give.uncf.org or by mail to UNCF, Attn: Denise Scott, 1805 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001.

Heartfelt thanks to the wonderful staff at Attic Angel Place, Agrace Hospice, and personal caregivers Sandy Sutter, and Judith Brings for their invaluable assistance to our family and to Jim during the final stages of his life.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
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