ALVIN J. MEIKLEJOHN Jr.

MEIKLEJOHN, ALVIN J., JR. June 18, 1923 March 1, 2010. Al Meiklejohn was born in Omaha, Nebraska, June 18, 1923 to Alvin J. Sr. and Beryl Fallon. His family moved to Denver while he was an infant where he attended Denver schools, graduating from South High School in 1940. He had a brother Milton who pre-deceased him. He married Lorraine June Mindrup on April 25, 1953 who died on June 30, 2009. Together they raised four children, Pamela Kelsall, Shelley Dressler, Bruce and Scott. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren. During World War II, Meiklejohn served in the United States Army Air Force from 1941 to 1946 as a pilot with the 350th Squadron 100th Bomb Group H. achieving the rank of Major with several decorations. He flew 35 missions over Europe as the pilot of a B-17. Following World War II, he attended the University of Denver and received a B.S.B.A. degree and a J.D. degree. He is a licensed certified public accountant and attorney-at-law. He received the degree of L.L.D. (Honorary) from the University of Northern Colorado in 1998. Meiklejohn was president of the law firm of Jones & Keller, P.C. and its predecessor firm,Jones, Meiklejohn, Kehl & Lyons, where he had a distinguished law career exceeding fifty years. Meiklejohn had a long history of public service starting when he was elected to the Jefferson County Board of Education in 1971 for a six-year term. Four years of this term he was President of the Board. He was elected to the Colorado State Senate for the first time in 1976, and was reelected without opposition in 1980, 1984, and 1988. Most recently Meiklejohn was re-elected in 1992. He retired in December, 1996. He was Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education. Meik lejohn was a member of the Commission on Uniform State Laws and was Chairman of the Colorado Commission on Achievement in Education. Al Meiklejohn was a member of the Northwest Metro Chamber of Commerce, and was a member of the Board of Directors of that Chamber. He was a member of Oriental Lodge No. 87, AF&AM, Rocky Mountain Consistory, and EI Jebel Shrine. He is also a member and Past President of the Transportation Lawyers Association. In 1968, Meiklejohn was Co-Chairman and one of the founders of the Transportation Law Institute, which is sponsored jointly by the University Of Denver College Of Law and the Transportation Lawyers Association. From 1973 to 1977, Al Meiklejohn was a member of the Executive Committee of the Colorado Association of School Boards. He served as President of the Association in 1975 and 1976. Meiklejohn was elected to the Board of Directors of the National School Boards Association in 1975, and served until 1977. He was a member of the Education Commission of the States. Al Meiklejohn has received numerous awards. In 1954, the State Junior Chamber of Commerce made him "Young Man of the Year." More recently, the Denver Regional Council of Governments twice (1980 and 1987) awarded him its Distinguished Service Award. The Arvada Chamber of Commerce has given him its Arvada Image Award. The Colorado Association for Retarded Citizens named him the Outstanding State Senator, as has the Senior Lobby. In 1992 the United Veterans Committee named Meiklejohn as "Legislator of the Year." The Colorado State P.T.S.A. has given Al Meiklejohn a Distinguished Service to Education Award. The alumni association of the University of Colorado at Denver gave Meiklejohn its 1989 Legislative Recognition Award. Westward newspaper named him the 1991 "Legislator of the Year." The University of Northern Colorado presented Al Meiklejohn with its 1989 Crystal Apple Award for distinguished service to education. The Colorado Transportation Conference gave him the 1989 Roderick L. Downing award for his efforts to improve surface transportation within Colorado. Meiklejohn was the first legislator in history to receive the Downing award. He has received many other awards and recognitions for community service. Most recently, Al Meiklejohn served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum. Perhaps he was most proud of the decision of the Jefferson County Public Schools to name its newest elementary school located in Arvada after him. Visitation will be Thursday, 4-7pm at Crown Hill Funeral Home, and funeral service, 1:00 PM, Friday at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 4500 Wadsworth Blvd., Wheat Ridge, Entombment immediately following at Olinger Crown Hill Tower of Memories and reception after. Contributions may be made to the Al and Mindy Meiklejohn Endowed Scholarship at Red Rocks Community College or The Wings Over The Rockies Air and Space Museum.