Louis Pryor

Louis S Pryor

Louis Seel Pryor of New Canaan died Friday, Jan 10, at Norwalk Hospital after a long illness 

Mr Pryor was born to the late Commander Frank D Pryor and Rosealice Seel Pryor on March 6, 1934, in Washington, DC He attended St Alban's School in Washington, DC He spent two years at The US Naval Academy in Annapolis, and transferred to Yale University in 1955, graduating with a bachelor's of arts degree, magna cum laude in 1957 Upon graduation he was given a Cadet Award from the Air Force Association in recognition of his scholastic ability and leadership In 1960, he received a LLB from Yale Law School

On June 15, 1957, he married June Conte of New Haven After living in Maine, New York City and Greenwich, they moved to New Canaan in 1971 and raised a family

Mr Pryor began a long career in law in 1958 working as legislative assistant to Sen John Cooper of Kentucky in the US Senate After graduation he was a staff judge advocate at the headquarters of Bangor Air Force Defense Sector, at Topsham Air Force Base, Maine for three years He worked as general counsel and Director of Corporate Planning for Allied Control in Southington, CT, and was an estate lawyer for New Canaan law firms Duel & Holland, and Hawthorne, Ackerly, and Dorrance In 1989 he co-established the firm of Lane & Pryor, specializing in corporate counseling and tax planning

Mr Pryor sat on the Planning & Zoning Commission of New Canaan He was director and co-founder of Classical Radio of Connecticut, and served as Eastern Regional Counsel for The Sierra Club He was also a member of the Connecticut Chapter of The Sons of the American Revolution, belonging to the family tree of Joseph Hewes, one of the original signers of The Declaration of Independence

A long-time participant of the theater, Mr Pryor was a member of The Connecticut Playmakers, Sterling Barn Theater of Stamford, and The New Canaan Town Players He was also actively involved in The Gridiron Club of New Canaan

"With his encyclopedic memory (earning him admission to Mensa), flair for language, and dramatic personality, he was a perfect fit for the quiz show 'Jeopardy!'," his family said "In 1990, he tried out at the show's local contestant search in Atlantic City, NJ, winning over the scouting team by explaining that he would use his winnings to fund an archeological dig, his family said He was invited to be a contestant in Jeopardy's 1991 senior tournament and won the round, to the delight of family, friends and fans, his family said He also participated in Jeopardy's Tournament of Champions Shortly before his death, he was invited to Jeopardy's Battle of the Decades Tournament

Mr Pryor is survived by his devoted wife of 57 years, June Conte Pryor; a son, John Pryor of Florida; a daughter, Ann Pryor-Miller of New York City; and a grandchild in Texas

A memorial is planned for the spring