James B. McGlynn, age 90, of Ocala, Florida, passed away on November 8, 2019. He was born on February 9, 1929 to Robert and Dorothy McGlynn of East St. Louis, Illinois.
Jim attended St. Patrick’s Grade School and graduated n 1942. He was a 1946 graduate of Campion Jesuit High School in Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin. He then attended Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana, receiving his degree in Arts and Letters, and in 1953 he received his Bachelor of Law degree. He thereafter served in the US Army Judge Advocates Office in Okinawa, Japan, until his honorable discharge.
He then became a member of his family’s law firm in East St. Louis, Illinois until its relocation in Belleville, IL where he practiced until his retirement in 2003. In 1976 he married Marlene Shea, and thy made their home in Belleville, IL.
Mr. McGlynn was a member of the East St. Louis Bar Association, and was elected President in 1996. He was also a member of the St. Clair County Bar Association, and was elected President in 1980. He was a member of the Illinois Bar Association, and was also admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court.
He became a trail attorney for Transit Casualty Company, and later became the trial attorney for Bi-State Development Agency (which provided passenger bus service between Illinois and Missouri). He was later appointed a Commissioner of that agency by the Governor of Illinois. Jim was also regional trial counsel for the Brotherhood of Trainmen, and successfully tried numerous personal injury cases in their behalf. In his earlier experience, he was required to try two separate personal injury cases to jury verdicts within the same week, and won them both. A unique experience!
On June 9, 2012 he, with pleasure noted and celebrated what he described as his ‘Millennia Month Birthday,’ or his 1000 month of life. He felt this was an occasion which few people were able to observe in their own life and no one observes it twice!!
Upon Jim’s retirement, he and Marlene moved to Ocala, Florida where they lived happily until his death. Jim was deeply devoted to his wife, and she was deeply devoted to him.
In addition to his wife Marlene, Jim is survived by his brother, Robert E. McGlynn; and many nieces, nephews and cousins of whom he was very fond. He was especially close to Dan McGlynn and his twin brother, Steve, who was elected Circuit Judge for St. Clair County, Illinois.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Daniel McGlynn.