Willis Hickam, Jr.

Willis Hickam, Jr. was born on May 3, 1894 in Spencer, Indiana. After graduating from Spencer High School in 1912, he enrolled at Indiana University. He received his LL. B. degree from I.U. in June of 1918. After serving in the Army for a year, he returned to his hometown to practice law with his father and brother (Hubert Hickam). Health concerns resulted in Hickam taking a break from the practice in the 1920s, but he returned in 1929 and continued to practice until his death in 1978.

Hickam was a member of the Board of Managers of the Seventh Federal Circuit (1938-1940) and was Owen County Prosecutor in the 1930s and 40s. He was Director of the Owen County State Bank, for more than 30 years, as well as the Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum. Hickam was an Adjunct Professor of Civil Procedure at the Law School during the 1950s and was elected a member of the Indiana University Board of Trustees in 1953. He served on the Board until 1965 and was President from 1959 to 1965. He later served as Director of the Indiana University Foundation.

Willis Hickam, Jr. received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Indiana University in 1967. In 1987, he and his brother were both inducted into the Indiana University School of Law Academy of Law Alumni Fellows in 1987.

Source: Maurer School of Law, Notable Alumni