TO THE CHAPTER INVISIBLE
James A.B. Lockhart 1936-2024 Attorney, Executive, U.S. Army
his 58 years of dedicated service at the 40th annual Chicago Metro Founders’ Day celebration. Johnson’s leadership extended beyond the local chapter level. He also served as a graduate advisor to the Epsilon Omicron Chapter at Northern Illinois
D istinguished attorney, corporate executive, and community leader James A.B. Lock- hart (Chi 1956) entered the Chapter Invisible on Thursday, October 24, 2024, at 88. James Alexan- der Blakely Lockhart was born in New York City on May 27, 1936, to Edgar L. Lockhart and Margaret E. Blakely. He spent his early years in Louisville, GA, and Kingstree, SC, before moving to North Carolina, where he graduated from Palmer Memorial Institute in 1954. He earned a B.S. in business administration from Boston University in 1957 and a J.D. from Boston University in 1959. After earning his law degree, Lockhart served in the U.S. Army as a judge advocate at the 5th Army Headquarters in Chicago, achieving the rank of cap- tain before his honorable discharge in 1963. His legal career then took him to the Chicago office of the Trea- sury Department, where he worked as an attorney in
Lockhart was involved in social and civic causes. He was the past chair of the Bay Area Urban League and a founder and past chair of the City Club of San Francisco. He was chairman of the Port of Oakland, chairman of the board of KQED, San Fran- cisco’s public broadcasting station, and served on the national PBS Board. He held membership in Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, also known as The Boulé, where he chaired the social action committee and served as Vice Chair of The Boulé Foundation. In addition, he was a member of The Guardsmen and the Bohemian Club. Brother James A. B. Lockhart was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth Douglas Lockhart. Surviv- ing are his son, Marc (Ann) B. Lockhart; stepson, Diallo H. Williams; first wife, Reba Howard; four grandchildren, Blakely K. Lockhart, Kali L. Lockhart, Diallo R. Williams, and Dakar J. Williams; a host of extended family, friends, and associates. ♦
University in DeKalb, IL. Despite his elevated
status within the fraternity, Johnson remained humble and committed to serving others. He understood that his position came with the responsibility to uplift and empower those around him. In his personal life, Brother Johnson was a loving husband to Carrolyn Johnson, a devoted father to his daughter and son, and a cherished brother to his siblings. His impact extended far beyond his immediate family, touch- ing the lives of countless relatives, friends, and fra- ternity brothers who were inspired by his leadership, wisdom, and unwavering commitment to service. Though he may have transitioned to Chapter Invisible, his spirit will con- tinue to guide and inspire us as we strive to uphold the principles of brother- hood and service that he exemplified throughout his extraordinary life. ♦
the chief counsel’s office. In 1965, he served as an assis- tant corporation counsel for the City of Chicago. In 1967, Lockhart became a partner at the law firm Rivers, Lockhart, Clayter & Lawrence, a position he held until 1971 when he transitioned to the corporate world as senior vice president of Budget Rent-A-Car, where he was promoted to Vice President of Public Affairs, a role he held until his retirement in 1998. While in California, he lived in Moraga and later in Oakland. He summered at his residence on Martha’s Vineyard. Upon retirement, he moved to Fort Lauder- dale, FL, where he resided for two decades before moving to Richmond, VA. Throughout his career,
84 THE JOURNAL ♦ SPRING 2025
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter maker