Obituary of James Preston King

JAMES PRESTON KING Loudonville-Honorable James Preston King, 80 of Loudonville, died Friday, June 11, 2010 at the Community Hospice Inn at St. Peter's Hospital in Albany. He was preceded in death by his wife Jane Campbell King. He is survived by his wife Anne Brewster King, his sons James Preston King Jr., David Knox (Kim S.) King, Glenn Campbell (Theresa G. ) King, his 9 grandchildren, his two sisters Carolyn Charlton and Ruth Malaney, his several nieces, nephews and his two step daughters Julianne Chesky and Martha Kearns. Judge King was born in Ticonderoga on July 14, 1929 the son of the late Preston and Ethel (Shear) King. He graduated from Westminster College and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps, serving with the 3rd Marine division in the Far East and becoming Company Executive Officer. After release from active duty, he entered Albany Law School and graduated in 1959. The next year he returned to the Marine Corps as captain serving in Okinawa and Vietnam. In 1967, he was assigned Senior Marine Instructor at the Naval Justice School in Newport, Rhode Island. After he returned to Vietnam before being assigned Judge Advocate to the Fleet Marine Force, after which he was selected to attend George Washington University, where he received an LLM in Criminal Law and Psychiatry. In 1978, he was promoted to Brigadier General and became the Corps' highest ranking JAG officer as the Director of the Judge Advocate Division and as Staff Judge Advocate for two Commandants of the Corps. His decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with Combat V, and the Combat Action Ribbon as well as various citations and service medals. Upon his retirement in 1980, he became law clerk to State Supreme Court Trial Judge Dominic Viscardi before teaching law at Stetson University Law School in Florida. He later returned to New York where he subsequently headed the Tort Unit - Claims Bureau in the Office of the Attorney General. In 1984, he became an adjunct professor at Albany Law School, teaching Trial Tactics and Advocacy until 2009. in 1990, Judge King left the Attorney General's Office to run for the State Assembly (109th A.D.) Following his election and re-election, he served as ranking Minority Member of the Assembly Codes Committee until he resigned in 1995 to accept an appointment to the Court of Claims, where he served until mandatory retirement in 2001. Shortly afterwards, he was named General Counsel in the NYS Department of State. Judge King subsequently served as a judicial hearing officer and was appointed as hearing officer for the NYS Retirement System. He also was the first Government Lawyer in Residence at the Government Law Center of Albany Law School as the Distinguished Jurist in Residence at Siena College, where he mentored pre-law students and served as co-coach of Mock Trial Team. Judge King served on the NYS Commission on Public Authority Reform, the Temporary Commission on Lobbying (Member and Chair), and the State Commission on Public Integrity. Last year, the Northern District of New York Federal Court Bar Association awarded Judge King its prestigious Hon. James R. Duane Award, given to individuals who have demonstrated "a deep personal commitment to the preservation and understanding of our legal heritage." This year he received the Lifetime Achievement in Public Service Award from the Government Law Center at Albany Law School. Jim was also a board member of the PARC Committee in Plattsburgh. He was also an accomplished Jazz Trombonist and received much joy when playing. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a memorial service on Friday June 18, at the Westminster Presbyterian Church at 262 State Street in Albany at 9:30 a.m. In addition, there will be a memorial service held at the United Presbyterian Church in Putnam, New York on Saturday June 26th at 10:00 a.m In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Community Hospice of Albany 445 New Karner Rd. Albany, NY 12205 or the United Presbyterian Church 365 County Route 2 Putnam Station, NY 12861-3510 For directions, information or to light a memory candle for the family please visit www.dufresneandcavanaugh.com