James "Jim" E. Westbrook

James E. Westbrook died early Saturday morning, August 16. He was only a few weeks away from his 91st birthday. Visitation will be 10-11am, Friday, August 22, 20205 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 903 Bernadette Drive Columbia. Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11am with burial to follow in Memorial Park Cemetery 1217 Business Loop 70 West Columbia.

James was born on September 7, 1934 in Camden Arkansas, son of Loy and Lucille Westbrook. He graduated from Hendrix College with High Honors in 1956 and attended law school at Duke University. He received his J.D. with distinction in 1959 and his LL.M. from Georgetown University in 1965.

James practiced law in Little Rock Arkansas from 1959 to 1962. From 1963 to 1965 he served as a legislative aide for Senator McClellan of Arkansas. He began his teaching career in 1965 at the University of Missouri Columbia School of Law, advancing to full Professor in 1970 and becoming the James S. Rollins Professor of Law in 1974. He also served as Assistant Dean from 1966 to 1968.

In 1976 he accepted a position as Dean at the University of Oklahoma College of Law in Norman, Oklahoma. He remained Dean until 1980. Realizing that he preferred teaching to administration, he returned to the University of Missouri as a member of the teaching faculty. He served as interim Dean at the M.U.School of Law from 1981 to 1982. In 1982 he was named the Earl F. Nelson Professor of Law.

Professor Westbrook was an active scholar with a number of publications. He was particularly proud of A MODEL CHARTER FOR MISSOURI CITIES, published in 1973, and DISPUTE RESOLUTION AND LAWYERS, which he wrote with L. Riskin and had published in 1987.

Professor Westbrook also served as a labor arbitrator starting in 1973. In 1976 he was included in the roster of arbitrators of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. He continued his arbitration practice until the end of his career.

James was predeceased by his wife Kay in 2015. He is survived by his three sons, Mike, Bruce and David, and six grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers memorials to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church would be appreciated.

Condolences and fond memories may be shared at www.memorialfuneralhomeandcemetery.com