James Swann Obituary (1924 – 2020)

SWANN, Jr., James P.

James P. Swann, Jr of Atlanta, GA passed absent on November 16, 2020 at the age of 96. Born on November 8, 1924 as the only boy or girl of James P. Swann, Sr. and Grace Whatley Swann, JP was a very pleased native Atlantan who battled through The Good Melancholy to triumph in all elements of his existence. JP was a labor law firm extraordinaire, husband, father, general public servant, athlete, friend, released creator, grasp craftsman and past but not least a very pleased grandfather.

Developing up in the Morningside area of Atlanta, JP attended and was a single of the very last residing graduates (1943) of Boys Substantial. Upon graduation from Boys Higher, JP attended Georgia Tech which has extensive been a dim loved ones key. Even though at Ga Tech, JP felt the calling of his nation to serve and was accepted into the Army Specialized Schooling Corp and inducted into the Army later on in 1943. After essential schooling at Ft. Benning, JP completed specialized schooling in Corvallis OR, Monmouth NJ and Honolulu Hello. JP grew to become a member of 3181st Signal Provider Battalion as a 1st Lt. and subsequently section of the 10th Military.

In April of 1945 JP participated in the invasion of Okinawa in which he was charged with establishing wire and cable lines to facilitate communications amongst Military commands. JP’s services did not end after WWII as he was despatched to Korea to additional serve his state. He was Honorably Discharged from the Army in March of 1946 and was awarded the The us Support Medal, Superior Carry out Medal and the Asiatic-Pacific Company Medal with a Bronze Star.

Soon immediately after his armed service discharge JP enrolled at the University of Ga building amends for his temporary matriculation at the North Avenue Trade Faculty. At UGA, JP excelled in all factors of campus existence, academically, socially and athletically. Though earning company and law levels, JP was Commander (President) of Sigma Nu fraternity and did his very best Charlie Trippi impact in quarterbacking the soccer workforce to the intramural championship and the all-athletics trophy in 1948. Following receiving a legislation diploma from UGA in 1950, JP recognized a situation with the FBI at an yearly salary of $5000 (considerably less a 6 cent deduction for retirement needs). His job in the FBI spanned for six years with assignments in Springfield, IL and New York City. In New York, JP was assigned to the Communist Squad for Counter Intelligence exactly where the workforce tracked the actions of known communists and spies. Whilst in New York, JP achieved indigenous New Yorker Eleanor Sexton who was attending the Fordham School of Regulation. They married in St. Patrick’s Cathedral in 1955 and stayed married for practically 65 several years until finally Eleanor’s passing in February of 2020. JP missed her dearly alongside with their son James P. Swann, III (Jay) who handed absent in 1987.

JP longed to return to his hometown and still left the FBI in 1956 with Eleanor to begin a household. His initial career was as Company Secretary of a printing business for quite a few several years but felt the calling to put his legislation degree to work. In 1959, JP accepted a position with the Nationwide Labor Relations Board (NLRB) where he honed his craft as a trial lawyer exposing unfair union trade practices. Right after quite a few several years JP entered non-public exercise and joined the law firm of Wilson, Branch, Barwick and Vandiver getting to be a husband or wife in 1966. In 1970, JP remaining with senior husband or wife John Branch to kind Branch & Swann which practiced for in excess of 15 years. JP was recognised as a labor law pioneer in the course of Atlanta and a intense advocate of management and educating its workers on the zero sum proposition supplied by labor unions. Some of his big clients included The Southern Company, GE, Coca-Cola, Hilton Inns, Avon and Equifax. In 1985, in search of a lighter workload, JP turned “Of Counsel” for Arnold and Anderson and its successor companies and afterwards “Of Counsel” with Ogletree Deakins right until fully stepping absent in 2009.

Starting in the mid-80s JP’s awareness turned towards globe travel with Eleanor, prolonged visits to their next property in Hilton Head, building furniture and participating in tennis and golfing at the Atlanta Athletic Club exactly where he was a happy 50+ calendar year member. JP reset his aims and was under no circumstances bored regardless of whether he was constructing a chair, cabinet or table, taking part in in tennis tournaments during the Southeast or hassling the nearby tax assessors business office with 10 web site briefs demanding his once-a-year residence tax assessment. With the added time, JP’s tennis video game flourished with many senior match victories as a highly point out rated participant in the late 80’s and into the mid 90’s. In 1988, JP received the GA State Open up men’s 60 doubles, was finalist on the GA Condition Open 60 singles and finalist in the Condition Indoors 60 doubles. Results ongoing in 1989 as the men’s 65 doubles finalist in each the Atlanta Town and GA Condition Opens. JP teamed with his spouse Eleanor to get a number of senior mixed doubles titles such as the 1995 Southern 65 combined championship. In 1996, JP realized the #2 rating in the State of Georgia 70 singles trailing only the Finest Bulldog, Dan Magill. At the switch of the century JP’s focus turned to golfing at the Atlanta Athletic Club exactly where he savored his association with the Duffers and Sunday afternoon rounds with Eleanor. JP will be very a lot skipped by his close friends at the AAC.

James P. Swann, Jr. led a full life, 1 of principle, equilibrium and accountability. He didn’t feel in enabling or entitlements but earning your way by way of everyday living. He was a Republican by means of and via but did surprise what took place to the quasi-acceptable Southern Democrat, even though he by no means voted for one particular. JP died a prosperous person in that there was nothing else he could at any time want or will need, we ought to all be so fortunate.

Survivors consist of his son Tony Swann (Lara) and daughter Eleanor Tillman (Matt) and five grandchildren, Nicolas Tillman, Grant Tillman, Zoë Tillman, James P. Swann, IV and Cameron Swann. The relatives will have a personal graveside company on Friday November 20th. We hope to have a greater open assistance at a afterwards date. In lieu of bouquets, donations can be manufactured in the honor James P. Swann, Jr., to the Bobby Dodd Institute, 2120 Marietta Blvd. Atlanta GA 30318, bobbydodd.org.