John Leachman Oliver Jr., prominent Cape Girardeau attorney and a fourth-generation practitioner from one of Missouri's most distinguished legal families, died May 12, 2005, at his home at the age of 62.

Oliver was born April 23, 1943, in Carmel, Calif., the son of John ("Jack") L. and Elizabeth ("Libby") Pierce Oliver. He was educated in Cape Girardeau's Campus Training School before graduating from McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tenn. In his youth Oliver began a lifelong involvement with the Boy Scouts as a member of Troop 4, where he attained the rank of Eagle. He was raised in First Presbyterian Church, where he remained an active member throughout his life.

In 1964, Oliver married Rosemary McWhorter. They had one child, Jack Oliver, born in 1969. In 1980, Oliver married Deborah Nesler Schumacher of Cape Girardeau. They raised two children: Daric and Brandi Schumacher.

Oliver attended Yale University, where he earned a bachelor of arts degree as a ranking scholar, cum laude, in 1965. There he was a member of Beta Theta Pi social fraternity. That same year he entered the University of Missouri School of Law, where he wrote his name into the annals as one of the most distinguished students ever to attend that institution. While in law school, Oliver earned numerous awards and scholarships, including membership in the Order of the Coif. He was the editor in chief of the Missouri Law Review and valedictorian of the Class of 1968. At graduation Oliver was named the Phi Delta Phi graduate of the year. That same year he began a clerkship with the late Judge Roy W. Harper of the U.S. District for the Eastern District of Missouri. Upon completion of his clerkship, Oliver returned to Cape Girardeau in 1969 and entered the practice of law in a firm his great-grandfather, Sen. R.B. Oliver, had founded in 1894. Practicing in his early years with his father, grandfather and great-uncle, Oliver pursued a demanding practice representing national corporate clients, local small businesses, as well as those engaged in Southeast Missouri agriculture.

Oliver was a member of the Advisory Board of Directors of US Bank and of the Kohlfeld Distributing Co., among various other local businesses.

Oliver authored legal articles in countless publications and was a frequent lecturer at professional seminars and other gatherings of legal practitioners. His professional associations and memberships were many. He was a member of the Missouri Bar, Cape Girardeau County Bar Association, president (1987-1988); member, American Bar Association; member, Illinois Bar Association; member, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis; the Consolidated Bar Association of Southern Illinois; fellow, American Bar Foundation; member of Defense Research Institute; member of the International Association of Defense Counsel; Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers, vice president (1988-1989) and member of Board of Directors (1984-1996), secretary 1987-1988; secretary 1988-1989; vice president 1989-1991; president 1991-1992; member of Board of Governors of Missouri Bar, 1989-1991; trustee of National Conference of Bar Examiners. Oliver contributed to the national and Missouri legal communities as a member, Missouri Supreme Court Committee on Missouri Rules of Evidence; member, Missouri Supreme Court Committee on Advertising; member, Missouri Supreme Court Committee on Judge's Handbook; member, The Young Lawyer's Council of the Missouri Bar; chairman, Tort Committee, Missouri Bar, 1982-1985; member, Board of Governors, Missouri Bar Association 1989-1991; 1990 member Consecutive Committee, Missouri Bar Association; member, Client Security Fund, Missouri Bar Association; chairman, Client Security Fund, Missouri Bar Association; trustee, The Board of Trustees of the Missouri Bar Foundation; vice president, president 1991-1993; member, Missouri Supreme Court Board of Law Examiners 1985-1995; president 1994-1995; member National Conference of Bar Examiners from 1986; member, Policy Committee, National Conference of Bar Examiners; member, Fellow ABA; American Judicature Society; Practice Committee, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri; member, Executive Committee, Missouri Bar Association (forum).

In 1976, Oliver was appointed to the then part-time position of U.S. magistrate for the Southeastern District of the Eastern District of Missouri. He won periodic reappointment by the judges of the Eastern District and held office until 1990, when he resigned in order to facilitate the creation of a full-time position.

In 1989, Gov. John Ashcroft nominated Oliver to the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission. He won confirmation by the Missouri Senate as a Democratic appointee and served a six-year term, during which he was elected vice chairman. To the formidable tasks involved in overseeing Missouri's vast highway system, Oliver brought the dominating and penetrating intelligence, the relentless intellectual curiosity and the unimpeachable integrity that marked all of his public service. Oliver was proud to contribute to, and be affiliated with, the construction of the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge and was on hand for its opening in December 2003.

Long active in First Presbyterian Church, Oliver served as treasurer, 1974-1978; deacon, 1970-1976; clerk, 1999-2000; and as elder, 1990 to the time of his death. In addition to his work with his church, Oliver was active in numerous civic activities. These include: president, Southeast Missouri Council, Boy Scouts of America, 1989-1992 as well as other offices; member, Executive Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Boy Scouts of America, 1970-1976 and 1986-1992; member, Executive Board, Greater St. Louis Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, from 1993; member, Downtown Cape Girardeau Rotary Club; Cape Girardeau County chairman, American Cancer Society; volunteer, Cape Girardeau Area United Way; member, Historical Advisory Commission, City of Cape Girardeau; Greater Cape Girardeau Historical Society; Board of Directors, Greater Cape Girardeau Development Corporation; Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce; Board of Directors, Chateau Girardeau Retirement Community. Oliver was an ardent supporter of state and local law enforcement agencies. At the time of his death Oliver was president of the Greater Cape Girardeau Industrial Development Association.

Among professional honors, Oliver was named a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and was named one of the Best Lawyers in America for the years 2000 through the 2005-2006 edition, inclusive.

Survivors include his wife, Debi; a son, John L. ( "Jack") Oliver III (Rachel) of St. Louis; a granddaughter, Katherine Pierce Oliver; and a daughter, Brandi Schumacher of Phoenix, Ariz.; and a sister, Penny Oliver Chapell (Carl) of Evergreen, Colo. He was preceded in death by his parents and by a son, Daric Schumacher.

Visitation will be today at Ford and Sons Funeral Home, Mount Auburn Chapel, from 5 to 7 p.m.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Monday at the First Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Paul Kabo officiating. Burial will be in the New Lorimier Cemetery.