ILL. C. JAMES MCCORMICK, 33°
Born – January 3, 1925
Died – May 22, 2017
Ill. C. James McCormick, 33° was born on January 3, 1925 to Emma and Clarence J. McCormick in Knox County. James attended Purcell Grade School, and Decker High School where he graduated as Valedictorian of the class of 1942. He enrolled at Purdue University, but when Purdue was converted to a wartime Naval Training facility in 1943, James returned home to help his mother manage the family farm.
Ill. Brother McCormick owned a fleet of five tractor-trailer trucks by the time he was 21 hauling fresh produce from Florida to markets in the Midwest. In 1954, he sold that business and purchased the Indianapolis & Southern Motor Express Company. In 1967, his company purchased McDaniel freight lines and two years later purchased J.A. Grant Trucking making his company I & S McDaniel a major regional competitor.
In 1977 just before the trucking industry was deregulated and forever changed; he wisely sold out to Briggs Transportation of St. Paul, Minn. Concurrent to building his trucking industry he also funded McCormick Ins. an authorized seller of White trucks.
James owned more than a dozen aircraft, was a member of several motorcycle clubs, and skippered his motor yachts in the Great Lakes with a full sea captain rating. James became active in the banking industry, which led to participation in numerous savings institutions and membership in banking agencies such as Director of Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis. Federal Savings & Loan Association Advisory Council, Chairman, & CEO of First Bancorp of Jasper.
Ill. Brother McCormick was also chairman of the fellowship of Christian Athletics. Chairman of Vincennes University Board of Trustees, he also served on the board of the University of Evansville and was a member of the Indiana Academy Board of Regents.
A complete list of Jim’s public service listings is too long for inclusion but featured service on the Indiana Bi-Centennial Commission, First vice Chair of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. Jim firmly believed in the concept of “Pass it forward” and this led to his active support and philanthropy directed towards a host of charities and worthwhile causes. He was Vice President of the Indian Society of YPO/WPO Indiana Gold; Quiet Birdman.
He served as the founding board chairman of the Red Skelton Museum Foundation and was President of Vincennes Kiwanis Club; long time member of various country clubs, frequent recipient of countless civic awards, professional honors, and widespread acclaim.
Ill. Brother McCormick was raised a Master Mason in Vincennes Lodge # 1 F & AM in Vincennes, IN on June 12, 1946. He joined the Scottish Rite on March 18, 1947 and was crowned a 33° Grand Inspector General in Cleveland, OH in 1994. He was also a member of the Hadi Temple Shrine and Knights of Malta. He is a lifelong Methodist.
His wife Marilyn; sons Mike and Pat; daughter Jane; 3 stepdaughters; 13 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren survive James.
Visitation will be June 1, 2017 1-8 PM at the McCormick Pavilion of Community United Methodist Church in Vincennes, IN and there will be a celebration of life at 11:00 AM in the church sanctuary on Friday June22, 2017.