John Kimberling

Kimberling, John Farrell
November 15, 1926 - January 27, 2013
John F. "Jack" Kimberling of Palm Springs, lawyer, teacher, writer and philanthropist, passed away on Sunday, January 27, 2013 from complications of cancer. Jack was born November 15, 1926 in Shelbyville, Indiana, the son of the late Farrell and Phyllis Casady Kimberling. He received a Bachelor of Naval Science and Tactics Degree from Purdue University in 1946. Returning to Indiana University to continue his studies, he was a member and President of Pi Chapter of Beta Theta Pi social fraternity. He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1947. He attended the Indiana University School of Law where he graduated in 1950 with a Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree. He had been elected a member and Magister (President) of Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity. After practicing briefly as an attorney in Muncie, Indiana, he was recalled to active duty in the U.S. Navy and served for two years in the Korean War and was released from active duty in 1953 as a Lt.-Commander. He was admitted to the practice of law in 1950 in the State of Indiana and 1953 in the State of California and was a member of various federal Bars where he practiced law as a litigation specialist. Jack practiced law after being released from active duty from the Navy in 1953 with Lillick, McHose and Charles in Los Angeles, where he was elected to partnership in 1963. He later served as managing partner of that firm. After taking an early retirement from the Lillick firm in 1986, he was recruited as a senior partner in the Los Angeles office of the New York firm of Dewey Ballantine, where he was chairman of the litigation department. He was a member of the Anti-Trust Law Section and a charter member of the Section on Litigation of the American Bar Association. His skills and achievements as a lawyer were recognized when he was elected a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He was active in legal matters in Los Angeles serving as a lawyer/delegate to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference and a member of the Advisory Board of Directors of the Institute of Corporate Counsel. Active in civic affairs in Los Angeles, he served as President of the Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce and member of the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of the Executive Committee of the Los Angeles Mayors Commission for Human Relations. He served as a Member of the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Ballet Company, the Ebony Showcase and as Vice-President of the Ebony Showcase Foundation. He was a member of the Friends of the Los Angeles County Art Museum. He served as a member and director of a number of corporations including Olsen Industries and Ponto Corporation. He was a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of The Mitsui Bank and later a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of Manufacturers Bank. Active in political affairs in Los Angeles, he served as Chairman of the 30th Congressional District Republican Party Central Committee. Jack was active in alumni affairs of Indiana University and the School of Law, serving as a long time member of the Board of Directors of the Indiana University Foundation, and a member of the Board of Visitors of the Indiana University School of Law. He was honored as a Fellow of the Academy of Law Alumni of the School of Law at Indiana University and was a recipient in 2001 of the Distinguished Alumni Service Award of Indiana University. He also taught for a number of years as a visiting professor at Indiana University School of Law. He served as National Co-Chairman of the highly successful 2000 Endowment Campaign at Indiana University. He was a member of the Chancery Club, California Club, American Judicature Society, and Lincoln Club, among others. After retiring from the practice of law, he moved full time to his home in Palm Springs, where he was active in community and political matters. He served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Desert Symphony, and Chairman of the 44th Congressional District Voters Democratic Party Coalition. He established and endowed the John F. Kimberling Foundation, a private foundation which over the years gave millions of dollars for scholarships to college students, medical research, social programs and other charitable activities. He is the author of two books: What This Country Needs, in 2004, and How to Try a Jury Case, in 2007. In an article about him in The American Lawyer, he was called one of the "top jury trial lawyers" in the country. He is survived by his sister Nancy Horswell of Ojai, California and his nieces and nephews James Horswell of Ojai; Jane Fredgant of Agoura Hills; Julie Spencer of Acton; John (Horswell) Kimberling of Sherman Oaks; and Joseph Horswell of Ojai.
His remains have been cremated, and there will be no public funeral or memorial service. Contributions in his memory may be made to The Kimberling Society of the Indiana University School of Law, 211 South Indiana Ave., Bloomington, IN 47405.