The Honorable Judge James L. Foreman, 85 of Paducah, KY and Key Largo, FL (formerly of Metropolis, IL) passed away at 9:35 PM Sunday, June 3, 2012 at Lourdes Hospital in Paducah, KY.
Judge Foreman served in the United States Navy during World War II. He attended the University of Illinois where he was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University in 1950. In 1952 he received a law degree from the University of Illinois and began practicing in Metropolis, establishing the law office of Chase and Foreman in 1955. From 1953 to 1960, Judge Foreman served as Assistant Attorney General for the State of Illinois; State’s Attorney for Massac County, 1960 to 1964; and Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Illinois, 1969 to 1972. In 1972 he was appointed United States Federal Judge by then President Richard M. Nixon for the Eastern District (now the Southern District) of Illinois. He became Chief Judge in 1978, serving in this capacity through 1992 when he became a senior District Judge until his retirement from the bench in 2006.
He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Mabel Dunn Foreman of Paducah, KY and Key Largo, FL; three daughters, Beth Foreman Banks of Paducah, KY., Rhonda Foreman Wittig and husband Don of Bayview, TX., and Nanette Foreman Love and husband Mike of Paducah, KY; seven grandchildren, Whitney Ann Banks of Franklin, TN., Sidney Banks Benson and husband Mark of Hilton Head, SC., Harold Burton Banks III of Paducah, KY., James Edward Banks of Paducah, KY., Allison Riepe Boykin and Husband Clinton of Key Largo, FL., Michael Clyde Love Jr. of Paducah, KY and Conrad Foreman Love of Columbia, MO; five great-grandchildren, Calley Sutton Zorn Jr. of Franklin, TN., August Burton Zorn of Franklin, TN., Luke Anthony Benson of Hilton Head, SC., Liam Banks Benson of Hilton Head, SC., and James Ryan Boykin of Key Largo, FL.
He was preceded in death by his parents James Courtney and Anna Elizabeth (Henne) Foreman.
Memorial services will be held at 2:00 PM Friday, June 8, 2012 at the First United Methodist Church of Metropolis, IL with the Rev. Gary Motta officiating. Interment will follow at the Round Springs Cemetery in Massac County. There will be no visitation. Milner and Orr Funeral Home of Paducah is in charge of arrangements.
The family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Judge James L. Foreman Scholarship, Southern Illinois University School of Law, Lesar Law Building, Carbondale, Illinois 62901 or charity of your choice.
You may leave a message of sympathy or light a memorial candle at www.milnerandorr.com.
