James Huntington Odom Sr.

James Huntington Odom Sr. died at Southeast Louisiana War Veterans Home in Reserve, Louisiana on October 9, 2012. He was born in Baton Rouge on July 14, 1930. His parents were Elise Huntington Odom and John Fred Odom. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Kleinpeter Odom; a son, James H. "Hunt" Odom, Jr. and his wife Debra Woolsey Odom; a grandson, James H. "Hunter" Odom, III; a step-granddaughter, Lauren Gutierrez Chambers and her husband Matthew Wesley Chambers; and a step great-grandson, John Wesley Chambers. He was predeceased by his parents and a half sister, Emagene Bell Odom Dockum. He was a member of St. James Episcopal Church since childhood, where he served on its Vestry, finance committees, several search committees for pastors, and as an usher for many years. He graduated from Baton Rouge High in 1947 and in 1982 was named to its Hall of Fame. He attended LSU and graduated in 1951. While at LSU he was elected to membership in Omicron Delta Kappa, an honorary leadership society. He was vice-president of the LSU student body. He was president of Zeta Zeta Chapter of Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity, and in 2004 was named its alumnus of the year. He participated in college ROTC for four years and was selected for membership in Scabbard and Blade, the honorary military organization. Upon graduation from LSU, he was commissioned as an Infantry second lieutenant in the US Army. The Korean War was then in progress, and he was called to active duty shortly after graduation in July 1951. He was married December 10, 1951. He served in the US Army in Japan for six months and in Korea for the balance of his two year service. He was honorably discharged in August, 1953. The following month, he entered LSU Law School, where he was an Associate Editor of the Louisiana Law Review and Chief Justice of the Honor Court. Upon law school graduation in 1956, he and his life-long friend, John S. White, Jr., were asked by the out-going Governor, Robert F. Kennon, to form a Baton Rouge law firm where they were later joined by Robert F. Kennon, Jr. and John L. "Jay" Dardenne, Jr. In addition to a full law practice, he devoted countless hours to religious, social, professional, civic and community work. He was a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association (House of Delegates 1960-1966). In 1972, he was elected treasurer of the Louisiana State Law Institute and served in that capacity and on its Council for many years. He served LSU Alumni Federation, including president in 1973-1974 and was its chief spokesman for the plan of governance of higher education during the Constitutional Convention. In 1976-77, he was president of the Baton Rouge Bar Association. At the express wish of Ione Burden, he was asked to serve on the Board of Trustees of the Burden Foundation, and served happily there for many years. He was president of the Estate and Business Planning Council (1989). In 2005 he was named a Distinguished Alumnus of LSU. He was active in Cerebral Palsy Association, United Givers, Red Cross and several other boards. He was a member of the City Club, Rotary Club and Baton Rouge Assembly. Huntington was grateful for the education that he received from the LSU Law Center. He has provided an estate gift to the Law Center to support an endowed professorship. Visitation at Rabenhorst Funeral Home on Government St. Thursday, October 11, 2012 from 4:30-7:30 P.M. Visitation prior to the funeral on Friday, October 12, 2012 at St. James Church from 12 noon – 1:00 p.m. and the funeral immediately following at St. James Church at 1:00 P.M. Burial at Magnolia Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorial gifts be made to: The LSU Law Center "Huntington Odom Memorial Fund", payable to The LSU Foundation, mailed to the LSU Law Center, Suite 400, Baton Rouge, LA 70803. A guest register is available at www.rabenhorst.com.