James Concannon Death – James Concannon, of Topeka, Kansas, and a Washburn University School of Law former Dean and founding director of USAlliance has passed away. He was announced dead on Monday, June 20th, 2023, by US Alliance Life & Security Company. “USAlliance is sad to announce the death of Professor James Concannon, a founding director of USAlliance. We are proud and thankful for his dedicated service and his unwavering loyalty to all of our policyholders and shareholders as we continue to build USAlliance.”
Who was James Concannon?
James Concannon established himself as the Washburn University School of Law’s faculty member with the longest tenure. When Dick Seaton was chosen to serve as Kansas’s attorney general, Concannon, a third-year law student, was preparing to continue his service there after earning his degree from the University of Kansas School of Law.
However, Kansas voters had other ideas, and Vern Miller was elected, leading to a significant amount of turnover in the position. Concannon then worked for Justice Alex Fromme of the Kansas Supreme Court as a research attorney. In the summer of 1972, while still employed by Fromme, he worked as an adjunct professor at Washburn Law, where he taught Conflict of Laws to a class of more than 80 students in the morning before heading to his office at nine o’clock.
Concannon intended to serve as an assistant county attorney and join former Assistant Attorney General Ed Collister in Lawrence when Collister was elected as Douglas County attorney. Concannon has endured the ages and become a recognizable face of Washburn Law for nearly 50 years thanks to his connections with people and legendary tales. He was a dedicated husband to his wife Melissa and a loving father to his stepson Chris.
About James Concannon
Concannon has always prioritized being involved in the legal community, whether that means leading continuing education programs or participating in bar committees. Therefore, David Pierce, jd ’77, a former student of Concannon’s and longstanding colleague, said Concannon was drafted to the role because people believed he would perform so well, and they were right. The university was having trouble filling the dean position in 1988.
There were many notable accomplishments made during his tenure as dean, but a select few stand out as crucial to the development of the law school into what it is today. These include investments made in the WashLaw website, the new School of Law Library addition to the building, and increased faculty involvement in legal education nationally that helped elevate Washburn Law’s standing.
James Concannon’s obituary and funeral arrangements will be released by the family at a later date.
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