James A. Hallam Obituary (1931 - 2015)

James A. Hallam, PhD, 84, of Normal, died at 8:50 p.m., Wednesday, November 4, 2015 at Sugar Creek Alzheimers Special Care Center in Normal.His memorial service will be at 6:00 p.m., Monday, November 9, 2015 at Carmody-Flynn Funeral Home, Bloomington. Visitation will be from 4:00-6:00 p.m., Monday at the funeral home. Interment will be private.Memorials may be made to the Alzheimers Association.Jim was born June 18, 1931 in Pontiac, the son of Jerome and Rita Kennedy Hallam. He married Jeanette M. Hubly on April 11, 1953 in Chatsworth. She survives.He is also survived by five children, Jeannie (Dennis) Williams of Richmond, VA, Tim (Nancy) Hallam of Chicago, Jim (Jolene) Hallam of Kansas City, MO, Dennis Hallam of Normal and Carrie (John) Young of Bloomington; ten grandchildren, Brian (Danielle) Williams, Jason (Dawn) Williams and Matt (Marcie) Williams; Emily Hallam; Jensen Hallam; Rory and Michael Hallam; and Ryan, Kyle and Erin Heissler; six great grandchildren, Owen, Sawyer, Kendall, Ivy, Ethan and Preston; and one brother, Steve (Terri) Hallam of Akron, Ohio.He was preceded in death by two brothers, Kenny and Joe Hallam and a sister, Cecelia Whaley.Jim was valedictorian of his graduating class at Forrest High School, where he played football, baseball and basketball. He received his B.S. and MBA Degrees in Accounting from Illinois State University and his PhD in Accounting from the University of Iowa.Jim started his teaching career at Eastern Illinois University and went on to ISU in 1966 and retired as head of the Accounting department in 1988. He went back to work at Illinois Wesleyan University and taught there from 1990-1999. Jim earned numerous awards throughout his teaching career and has a scholarship named after him for the outstanding accounting student at ISU.Jim was an avid golfer and was a member of El Paso Country Club for over 40 years. He followed many sports and especially ISU Athletics. Most of all, Jim was a family man and enjoyed spending time with his family.The family would like to thank the staff at Sugar Creek Alzheimers Special Care Center in Normal for their wonderful care and support of Jim and his family.