TERREBONNE and LAFOURCHE Parishes, La. OBITUARIY for MCCOLLAM, JOHN Submitted by: Louis Lavedan Published in Houma Today & The Daily Comet from Jan. 17 to Jan. 18, 2014 ============================================================================= Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgenweb.org/volunteers/copyright.shtml ============================================================================= MCCOLLAM, JOHN ========== A photo is available for this file. Please go to http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafourche/obits/dateobits/2014/f1401.htm and click on the name of interest. ========== John Mason McCollam, 80, a former resident of Houma, died peacefully at home Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, surrounded by family following a long illness. Visitation will be from 2 p.m. until funeral time Saturday at Trinity Episcopal Church at 1329 Jackson Ave. in New Orleans. Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at the church, with burial in Metairie Cemetery. He is survived by Julie Hogue McCollam, his wife of 57 years; sons, John Mason McCollam Jr. and Douglas Hogue McCollam; daughter, Virginia Townes (Andrew Ryan) McCollam; grandson, Henry Frank McCollam; step-granddaughter, Hannah Ryan; brothers, William (Hope), of New Orleans, and Edmund (Anne), of Houma; and many beloved nephews, nieces, cousins, friends, and colleagues. John was born in New Orleans on June 19, 1933, the son of William and Marie Mason McCollam, who preceded him in death. He grew up in Terrebonne Parish outside of Houma, where his family had farmed sugar cane for many generations. John graduated from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in 1954 and served overseas in the U.S. Army from which he was honorably discharged in 1956. Following his military service, he attended Tulane University School of Law, where he served on the Board of Editors and was editor-in-chief of the Tulane Law Review, and inducted into the Order of the Coif. Later, John served on the Dean's Council and was professor emeritus of Tulane University School of Law, where he taught courses on oil and gas law from 1963 to 1987. After graduating from law school in 1959, John joined the Milling Law Firm where he became a partner. In 1970, with John "Jack" Gordon and Blake Arata, he formed the firm now known as Gordon, Arata, McCollam, Duplantis & Eagan, which today has more than 50 attorneys in four offices in Louisiana and Texas. John's diverse law practice covered a range of issues focusing especially on complex oil and gas litigation and energy regulatory matters. He was the author of a highly-regarded primer on oil and gas law in Louisiana and served frequently as an expert witness in the field of energy law. In addition, John served as an arbitrator in several domestic and international oil and gas disputes and mediated other complex cases. During his career, he garnered numerous professional honors including being named a fellow of both the American College of Trial Lawyers and the American Bar Foundation. Among colleagues, John was known as the quintessential gentleman lawyer, one who sought always to maintain the highest standards of ethics and collegiality in the profession. Away from work John traveled widely with family and friends, ranging from Mexico to Europe to Turkey and Australia. Despite a nagging high school football knee injury, he took up skiing and tennis in middle age and hiked in the Colorado Rockies in the summers. He loved to spend time at the beach house he built with Julie and was a believer in the restorative powers of salt water. Despite his many athletic talents, the one sport he never mastered was golf, though he held out hope until late in life. A devoted fan of the Saints, he was in Tulane Stadium for John Gilliam's run back, Tom Dempsey's field goal and Archie Manning's rookie debut and kept his season tickets through good times and bad for the next four decades. John also had a keen appreciation for New Orleans restaurants and dined out often with family and friends on which occasions he was notorious for secretly picking up the check. In addition to his professional accomplishments, John was an active benefactor of the preservation movement in New Orleans, and restored one of the 13 Sisters of Julia Row. Together with his cousin Andrew and his brothers, John also worked to develop his native Terrebonne Parish, including the Ellendale subdivision and golf course, and worked to preserve its traditions and history. He was also a member of the Boston Club, Louisiana Club, Stratford Club, the New Orleans Country Club, and several Carnival organizations. The family especially wishes to acknowledge and thank John's devoted and dedicated caregivers for all their hard work, love and support over the past few years. They are Debra Pierre, Bobbie Solomon, Benton Ratliff, Cheryl Gray, and Ava Nash. Thanks also to Viola Hickerson, Pat Spears and the late Jeremy Johnson. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to The Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans. Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home in New Orleans is in charge of arrangements. ======================