May 21, 1930 - July 9, 2010

Jack O’Hair Asher, 80, of Paris, died Friday, July 9, 2010 in Los Angeles, California while he and his wife were visiting with their son, Bill Asher, and his family.

Jack was born in Paris on May 21, 1930 to Ruth and John “Buck” Asher, who predeceased him. He went to Paris schools and graduated from the University of Illinois. Jack and his wife Jane graduated in 1957 from Tulane Law School in New Orleans where he was on Law Review. From 1957 to 1967 they practiced law in Alaska before moving back to Paris. Upon returning to Paris, Jack joined the law firm of Dillavou, Overaker and Schwartz, now known as Asher, Smith and Isaf. Jack practiced law until his death and served on the Board of Directors of the Edgar County Bank and Trust Co. from 1997 to the present.

Jack was admitted to practice law by the Supreme Court of Louisiana in 1957, District Court for the Territory of Alaska, 1959, Supreme Court of Alaska, 1959, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 1959 and the Supreme Court of Illinois in 1967. Jack practiced law for over 50 years.

Jack and Bud Wolfe started the Edgar County Airport and Jack chaired the Edgar County Airport Committee for many years and was a Board Member until his death. He was the President of the Paris Chamber of Commerce in 1971. Jack was a member of the Board of Directors of the Kansas State Bank in Kansas, Illinois from 1977 to 1997 and Chairman from 1982 to 1997. He has remained on the Board of Directors of the Edgar County Fair Association since 1975. Jack was a member of the Edgar County Sheriff’s Merit Commission from 1982 to the present. He was Chairman of the Edgar County Courthouse Centennial Celebration Committee in 1994 and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Edgar Cemetery Association from 1990 to the present.

Jack was particularly proud of his lifelong work in the area of attorney ethics both in Alaska and Illinois. He served on the Committee on Professional Ethics of the Illinois State Bar Association as a member from 1973 to 1983 and as Chairman from 1980 to 1982. He also served as a member of the Judicial Inquiry Panel of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois (ARDC) from 1984 to 1988. He was appointed to the ARDC Hearing Board in 1988 and served as Chairman from 1992 until the present. The Chairman of the ARDC wrote in a letter of reappointment for 2010-2011 that the “feedback for your reappointment was overwhelmingly positive” and that he was “recognized specifically as having the attributes of an excellent Hearing Board Member”.

Jack’s first job after law school was as the Assistant Attorney General for the Territory of Alaska which he held from 1957 to 1959. During that time he also chaired the Statehood Transitional Committee. In 1959 he became the First Assistant Attorney General for the State of Alaska. Jack next become the District Attorney for the 1 st Judicial District, State of Alaska in 1960 and held that position until returning to Paris in 1967.

While in Alaska, Jack also served as Vice President of the Juneau Bar Association from 1960 to 1963 and President from 1964 to 1965. He was on a three member committee which created the first Alaska State election in 1960 which was accomplished without error. Jack also worked as a Government Appeals Attorney for the Selective Service from 1961 - 1966, as a Judge Advocate for the American Legion Southeastern District of Alaska from 1963 - 1964, as a member of the American Legion National Committee on Law and Order from 1966 – 1968, Associate Member of the International Chiefs of Police from 1964 – 1980 and as a Lifetime Trustee for the American Legion Post 211 of Paris from 1974 to the present.

Jack grew up in a political family and loved politics. His grandfather, Frank T. O’Hair, was in Congress and his father Buck Asher started the Illinois Democratic County Chairmans Association and served on the Democratic State Central Committee. Jack was Founder and President of Young Democrats of Edgar County in 1954. From 1958 to 1966 he was the District Chairman, 1 st Judicial District, State of Alaska Democratic Party. In 1960 he was a delegate from Alaska to the Democratic National Convention and his father Buck was a delegate from Illinois. Jack was also a delegate in 1964. He was Secretary of the Alaska State Democratic Party from 1962 to 1966, Chairman Rules Committee, Democratic State Convention for Alaska in 1962, Legislative Representative for the Alaskan Federation of Peace Officers from 1962 to 1966, Chairman Democratic State Convention, State of Alaska in 1966 and Advisor to Edgar County Central Committee, State of Illinois from 1968 to 1980. During these years, Jack and Craig Smith were happily the emcee or speaker at almost every democratic occasion.

Jack is survived by his wife of almost 53 years, Jane Fitzgerald Asher, his daughter Duffey and her husband Makis Spyropoulos of Athens, Greece and his son Bill and his wife Julia Asher and their one year old daughter Jette Jane of Los Angeles, California. Jack was full of wit, intelligence and colorful reminiscences and was proud of his Irish heritage.

The family strongly requests the omission of flowers. For those who wish, memorials may be made to the Edgar County Fair Board, Edgar Cemetery Association, or to the Edgar County Humane Association.

Services celebrating his life were conducted at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 17, 2010 at Templeton Funeral Home in Paris. The Reverend Laurie Williams officiated and music was provided by Susan Farris, pianist. Burial followed in Edgar Cemetery, with military graveside rites by American Legion Post #211 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #3601. Bagpiper was Paul Hinson. Casket bearers were Steve Blair, Hon. Steven Garst, Tom Hebermehl, Mark Isaf, Mike Kern, Will Magers, Craig Smith, and Eric Volkman. Honorary Casket Bearers were Joe Carriere, Charles Jared, Stanley Johnson, Hon. Ralph Pearman, and Charles Wishart. Visitation was from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.