James William Howard McCord

James William Howard McCord was born on June 15, 1945 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to parents Marks and Hazel (Verg) McCord and joined brothers Ron and Terry and sister Sue in their home in Wauwatosa. He spent happy summer vacations with his family at Lake Content in Northern Wisconsin and worked mowing neighborhood lawns and maintaining park grounds for the city of Wauwatosa. He played baseball, basketball, and football with friends and on school teams, forming lifelong friendships with his teammates Bob Krohn, Bob Wellauer, and Hal Wilde. He earned degrees from the University of Tennessee and the University of Wisconsin Law School. On October 12, 1974, he married Sandra Sommer, and they lived on White Sand Lake dear Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin, where he was an attorney for Wisconsin Indian Legal Services. Later they moved to Stevens Point, Wisconsin, where he served as Public Defender for Portage County and became father to son Quinten. 

In 1978 Jim moved his family to Richmond, Kentucky, where he served as professor and founding Director of Paralegal Studies at Eastern Kentucky University for 27 years. He wrote textbooks for paralegal studies, The Litigation Paralegal and Criminal Law for Paralegals, that have been used in classrooms around the country, and served as president of the American Association of Paralegal Educators. Jim loved hiking, kayaking, and spending time with his family and close friends Tom Knight, Joe Flory, Alan and Carol Hunt, and Marjorie Farris. He fostered a beautiful little patch of woods in his backyard. He retired in 2005, and, with Sandy, enjoyed years of international travel and good times with friends and growing family. He became father-in-law to Stacey (Bohlman) McCord and Gramps to his precious Harlow, Rowan, and Freya. After years of dividing time between Kentucky and the Chicago area, Jim and Sandy moved permanently to Oak Park, IL, to be near Quinten's family.

Jim's work as an educator and attorney reflected his deep commitment to justice. He defended those accused of crime not only because it was required by law, but because he believed that every person deserves to have the best possible chance at a good life. He was forever patient and saw goodness in everyone he met.

After routine surgery, Jim suffered septic shock and died on April 6, 2025. His parents and brother Terry preceded him in death. He was cherished and will be dearly missed by his wife Sandra, son Quinten, daughter-in-law Stacey, grandchildren Harlow, Rowan, and Freya, brother Ron and his wife Joline, sister Susan and her husband John Brauer, sister-in-law Judy McCord, brother and sister-in-law Stephen and Ann Sommer, nieces and nephews Kimberly (Brian) Mackey, Anne (Jim) McSilver, Jennifer (Rich) Church, Aimee (Nate) Whaley, Todd (Aubreyanna) Sommer, Tracy Sommer, and Kevin (Angel) Sommer, great nieces and nephews, and dear friends.