James Hoagland French Jr.

James H. French, Jr., surrounded by loved ones, passed away on Christmas Eve of 2021, at the age of 92. He had been an accomplished attorney, a dedicated administrator, a force for good, and a widely admired man of charm, intellect, humor and honor.

Born in Charleston, West Virginia in 1929, Jim was raised in Morgantown —with sisters Carol & Jennie— where he enjoyed a childhood of fishing and running up and down mountains. In his late teens, Jim enlisted and served in the U.S. Army, where, in that service, he was stationed in Japan, at the end of WW II. Upon his return to the States, he enrolled in West Virginia University where he revived the local chapter of the Theta-Chi Fraternity —served as its president— and then graduated from WVU with honors.

In 1954, Jim moved to Washington, D.C., where he met and married the love of his life, Janet, and studied for and obtained his Juris Doctor degree —with honors— from George Washington University (in 1957). He soon passed the bar, researched and wrote articles for the Congressional Quarterly News (wherein he captured the voting of congresspeople for various bills). Then —in private practice at a law firm, on K-Street, where he quickly became a partner— Jim appeared in a case before the Supreme Court. Jim also served as a Commissioner in the National Capital Parks and Planning Commission with an eye for environmental advocation.

In 1967, Jim entered employment with the U.S. Postal Service at their headquarters in L’Enfant Plaza, where he spent most of his career: He started as an attorney in the Contracts and Property Division; then, through diligent effort and hard work, he advanced to become Asst. Postmaster General in charge of Procurement and Supplies, under three different Postmasters General.

Jim’s guiding principles were to always stick to best practices and regulations —such as contract bidding rules. He always managed government resources with efficiency in mind. In addition, he sought out and hired employees based on their skills and talent —regardless of age or gender. One achievement of which Jim was particularly proud was completion of the Stanford Executive Program (in 1984).

While crafting this illustrious career, Jim spent, with Janet, many happy years in their home in Potomac, Maryland —where they raised four children —three daughters and a son….

After the “birds had flown the nest,” in 1986, Jim and Janet moved to Avon, Connecticut, in which state, Jim served as the USPS’s regional Chief General Counsel for ten years.

Finally, Jim, with wife Janet, moved, in 1996, to Tampa, Florida, where he finished his 30 year career with the USPS as a Senior Counsel in 1997.

Jim then spent almost 25 sun-filled years in well-earned retirement, during which time he read about the latest science, enjoyed local wildlife —saving a few turtles, armadillos and wild turkeys— and played golf with friends —thereby achieving a hole-in-one!

Jim was a man of utmost character, honor, discernment, compassion and accumulated wisdom. Family and friends could seek his sagely advice regarding anything from career choices to his assessment of the probability of a science-fiction plot…. His counsel was always thoughtfully dispensed and delivered with a twinkle in his eye. Jim valued and practiced diligence, incorruptibility, loyalty and humor. He will be sorely missed by all who knew and dearly loved him.

Jim is survived by his adoring wife of 68 years, Janet C. French; daughter Susanne Kneeland with husband Paul and their children, daughter Lisa French with her children, daughter Marion “Holly“ Hart with husband Mike and their children, and son James H. French, III, with wife Sherry and her daughter Michelle, seven grandchildren, one great grandchild; his sister Carol French-Corbett; several nephews and nieces and many cousins.