Main Street, Middletown, Kentucky

Celebrating John's First Grandchild

This is a family baby shower for John's first grandchild. Jill & Will are opening baby gifts. Emma Jane Southard was born Fall 2008. Uncle Joe is her Godfather. Olivia Leigh Southard was born Winter 2010.

Johnny proudly shows his new tricycle and his Howdy Doody puppet!

"What strange creatures brothers are!"  Jane Austin (1775-1817)

Scouting

Johnny was a Cub Scout and a Boy Scout. He worked with the Scouting Program and had all three of his sons in scouting.

"On my honor I will do my best

To do my duty to God and my country

and to obey the Scout Law;

To help other people at all times;

To keep myself physically strong,

mentally awake, and morally straight."

The Boy Scout Oath, The Book of Virtues

Johnny is playing with Freddie Baker.  This is 1957 or '58.

You can see how few houses were in Blue Ridge Manor 

at the time.  In many ways, it was like living on 

a farm without all the labor.  We had woods to explore, 

ponds to hunt tadpoles, with an occasional stampede

of cows or pigs escaping from Plainview Diary Farm. 

Hurstburne Lane was a gravel two lane road and Plainview

was still a working Diary Farm.

John practiced law in Middletown, Kentucky and Jefferson County for 25 years.

K Man

Johnny worked with the University of Kentucky's track team.  

Because of this job, he lettered at U of K and was a K Man.

Learn About Johnny

John Blackburn Southard Jr

Born: August 19, 1947

Education: Middletown Elementary School, Eastern High School, B.S. University of Kentucky and J.D. University of Louisville Law School

Sibling: Elizabeth "Betty" Ann Southard (Stokes) born May 14, 1950

Married: Elizabeth Gayle Southard on June 9, 1979

Sons: John Willard Southard 6/8/80, James Robert Southard 12/27/82, and Joseph Michael Southard 1/31/85

Grandchild: Emma Jane Southard August 18, 2008

Career: Served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War and stayed in the Air Force Reserves. Practiced law in Middletown and Louisville, Kentucky. Taught classes at the University of Louisville Law School's Brandeis School of Law.

Died: August 24, 2008

John B. Southard, 61, of Middletown, Kentucky, long-time attorney and civil servant passed away on Sunday, August 24th at Rockford Manor, Louisville, KY.

He was born August 19, 1947 John Blackburn Southard Jr at the old Norton Hospital on Oak Street in Louisville. His parents, John Blackburn & Dorothy Elizabeth (Wolfe) Southard Sr resided in Old Louisville. They soon relocated in Middletown, KY. His grandparents were James Alvin & Bess Lander (Hopson) Wolfe of Christian County and Volna Blackburn & Belle Lee (Luckett) Southard of Muhlenburg County (both counties in Kentucky). His maternal great grandparents were Meredith Shellcross & Bettie Ann (Lander) Hopson and George Michael & Sidney Elizabeth (West) Wolfe all of Christian County, KY. His paternal great grandparents were Willis Hickman & Nancy Mary (Hocker) Southard of Ohio County, KY and John Michael and Sara Catherine (Wickliffe) Luckett of Muhlenberg County, KY.

John attended Eastern High School (where he participated six years in marching band and four years in spring sports), the University of Kentucky (where he served as President of the Student Center Board, Chairman of the Little Kentucky Derby Festival, Vice President of Phi Kappa Tau (ΦΚΤ) fraternity, President of Lances honorary society, member of Lamp & Cross, a K Man for track, served on Student Government, and was named one of Five Top Senior Men for 1969). He earned the rank of captain in Air Force ROTC. John received his B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Kentucky in 1969, and J.D. law degree from the University of Louisville in 1972. At U of L, he was a member of Delta Theta Phi (ΦΔΘ).

Upon graduation from law school, John entered the Judge Advocate's Office of the Air Force and served during the Vietnam War, rising to the rank of Colonel. Following his service, he continued serving through the Air Force Reserves and Air Force National Guard. John's Air Force career took him to military courts in Japan, Korea, Okinawa, Formosa, the Philippines, Guam, and Thailand. He taught trial practice, constitutional law and criminal law at Maxwell Air Force base in Alabama. The Air Force honored John numerous times with: Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and the Kentucky Distinguished Service Medal. He was selected as the Outstanding Air Force Reserve Officer in 1983 and again in 1988. In 1993, Southard earned recognition as the Outstanding Legal Educator for the USAF. In civilian life, John's law practice specialized in domestic relations and civil litigation. He represented Middletown as its city attorney from 1980 to 1988. He taught constitutional, criminal law, and criminal procedure & evidence at the University of Louisville's Brandeis School of Law.

After marrying Elizabeth Gayle Bryant in 1979, John made his permanent home in Middletown, Kentucky. From this union were born three sons: Will (career Air Force), James Robert (graduate student, Carnegie Mellon), and Joseph (May '08 graduate of the University of Kentucky).

As a long time civic minded man, John was always active in his community. A member of Middletown Methodist Church, he served as President of Middletown Rotary Club and was selected its Outstanding Rotarian in 1984 and 1986. John acted as league commissioner for the Middletown Recreation Association T-ball, mini-basketball, and softball programs. He served the Boy Scouts of America as a cub master and a scoutmaster. The Middletown Chamber of Commerce honored him with its 1992 Distinguished Service Award. He received the Jefferson County Outstanding Citizenship Award in 2000. He was also a member of the SAR (Sons of the American Revolution). John was also active in Eastern High School's Band Parent Association.

John was preceded in death by his father, John Blackburn Southard Sr and his grandparents. He was survived by his wife, Elizabeth Gayle Bryant Southard, sons: Will, James Robert, and Joseph; daughter-in-law Jill Evenski Southard, and granddaughter Emma Jane Southard; mother, Dorothy Elizabeth Wolfe Southard; sister, Elizabeth "Betty" Southard Stokes; and nieces, Leslie Ann and Amy Elizabeth Stokes. Arrangements were handled at Ratterman's Funeral Home in Middletown, KY with burial at Cave Hill Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy were requested for the Alzheimer's Association.