All rise, the honorable court of the 16th Judicial Circuit is now in session.  The Honorable James C. Hallock is now presiding.  He was my true champion long before I understood what it meant.  He always wanted my sisters and me to be happier and smarter than he ever was.

My dad always made sure that we had what we needed whether we were leaving for ISU or taking a nap on the living room couch.  Dad happily supported any basketball camp that we wanted to attend or any high school team we wanted to cheer on as grade-school players.  He handles our tuition bills so we can have a degree from ISU.  Dad always reminds us that we are going to be really good teachers and to never give up.  As my mom and I were leaving for the store once, dad said, "Buy this girl anything she needs."  That made me feel so special and so lucky to have my dad a part of my everyday life.  On pizza nights, Dad always asks us first before he orders to see what toppings we want.  He would even make a special trip just so we could have Pizza Hut rather than Nottolini's, his favorite.  He quietly sets his favorites aside so we can enjoy ours and not feel guilty about choosing Pizza Hut again.

Not only was Dad financially involved in our lives, but he was always present in the basketball court.  I do not remember a day in St. Joe's Gym without him.  He was at every practice, every game and even at the hot and crowded Christmas programs.  We would get to practice early so Dad could mop the court because he was proud of St. Joe's and proud of the Lady Jomen.  He was the best grade school coach because everyone learned the building blocks for success.  His coaching did not stop as I graduated from 8th grade.  He was not my high school team coach, but he rebounded almost every shot that I attempted on the driveway.  He always recreated game situations in the living room pretending the television was the basket and showing me how to get better position under the boards.

Dad admits he was never a good student until he went to law school.  He always wanted us to be smarter than he was in school.  He would spend hours sitting across from one of us at the dining room table doing the flash card ritual.  He was so tired from working all day that he often fell asleep because we were taking too long to answer.  Dad never quit or said, "I don't have time."  Dad never said, "This is not good enough."  He always responded, "If you did your best, that is all you can do.  I am proud of you!"

Dad does not tell us how to be successful.  We can see that through his dedication and faith.  When he was not elected to the city council or when he did not get the first judicial position, he did not quit.  Failure only made him work harder and persevere.  He never complained about his opponents or the rules, he kept doing his best.  His best efforts paid off when he was appointed as an associate judge the 31 day of January 1992.

My younger sister's basketball season ended with a loss Tuesday, marking the end of the 13 year Hallock era.  I never realized how much my dad existed in us until I read his email to me Tuesday night.  He wrote, "Well, tonight was my last basketball game."  I now recognize that dad was not just coaching from the sidelines or sitting on the bleachers of Chesbrough Field House.  He was within us, inspiring us to succeed.
17 February 1999