Wall of Honor Collection - John C. Elam, 1924-2002

              JOHN C. ELAM
1924-2002
TRIAL LAWYER, CIVIC LEADER
PIONEER IN DIVERSITY
FAMILY MAN AND FRIEND
JOHN WAS BORN IN INDIANA, SERVED IN WWII, AND GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF
MICHIGAN. HE MOVED TO COLUMBUS IN 1949 TO JOIN VORYS, SATER, SEYMOUR & PEASE,
AND WAS PRESIDING PARTNER 1963-1994. UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, THE FIRM GREW FROM 22
TO 278 LAWYERS. WITH BELOVED WIFE GINNY, HE MOVED TO UA IN 1958.
JOHN EARNED NATIONAL RECOGNITION AS A TRIAL LAWYER. HE TAUGHT AT U OF M AND OSU
LAW SCHOOLS, WAS PRESIDENT OF THE SELECTIVE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF TRIAL LAWYERS,
AND HELD HIGH POSITIONS IN THE COLUMBUS/OHIO/AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATIONS, EVEN
REVIEWING US SUPREME COURT NOMINATIONS.
JOHN VOLUNTEERED TIME AND TALENT TO HIS COMMUNITY, SERVING IN LEADERSHIP
POSITIONS WITH THE UA SCHOOL BOARD, COLUMBUS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, CCAD,
WEXNER CENTER, FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, AND LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS. HIS
POWER OF PERSUASION WAS LEGENDARY. HE HELPED RAISE OVER $18 MILLION FOR
DIRECTIONS FOR YOUTH, GIRL SCOUTS, GLADDEN COMMUNITY HOUSE, LEGAL AID, AND
UNITED WAY. HE RISKED PERSONAL CONSEQUENCES FOR PRINCIPLES IN WHICH HE
BELIEVED, SUCH AS ETHICS AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY. HE RECEIVED MANY PRESTIGIOUS
AWARDS, INCLUDING A PROFESSORSHIP IN HIS NAME AT THE OSU MORITZ COLLEGE OF LAW.
HIS DEVOTION TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS WAS WELL KNOWN. HE BALANCED HIS PERSONAL
AND PROFESSIONAL LIVES, BRINGING ENTHUSIASM, OPTIMISM, AND LAUGHTER TO ALL.