A RESOLUTION OF THE
FRANKLIN COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION
IN MEMORY OF JAY L. BENEDICT, JR
WHEREAS, the members of the Franklin County Bar Association will meet in a Special Meeting to be held at a future date to celebrate the life and honor the memory of our colleague and fellow member, JAY L. BENEDCIT, JR. who was called home by his Almighty God September 25, 2020 and
WHEREAS, although saddened by his death, it is our desire, and the tradition of the Franklin County Bar Association, to share our recollections of Jay and honor him with a Memorial Resolution at this Special Meeting; and
WHEREAS, before offering this Resolution, the members of the Franklin County Bar Association desire to offer a brief record of his life and career.
Jay was born February 18, 1930 in Quincy, Pennsylvania, the son of the late Jay L. and Ella Belle (Grove) Benedict. He is survived by his son, Jay L. Benedict, III, and daughter Julie C. Wagner and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy M. (Clugston) Benedict, and Brother, Robert Benedict.
Jay graduated from Quincy High School, class of 1947. He attended and graduated from Juniata College.
Following college, Jay was a member of the United States Army and served during the Korean Conflict where was stationed in Seoul Korea as a member Counterintelligence Corp.
Upon his discharge from the Army, Jay enrolled in the Dickinson School of Law, now the Penn State University, Dickinson School of Law, where he graduated in 1954.
Upon his return to Franklin County in 1956, Jay established a law office in Chambersburg and was a sole practitioner until his retirement in 1995.
He was admitted to the Franklin County Bar in 1956.
In 1959, Jay was elected District Attorney of Franklin County, a position he held until 1971.
Jay served as Chairman of the Board of Farmers and Merchants Bank and Trust Company of Chambersburg and Chairman of Franklin Financial Services Corporation. Additionally, he served as Secretary and Board Member of the Guilford Water Authority and Guilford Township Authority and served a Solicitor to the Guilford Township Board of Supervisors. He also served as a member of the Guilford Township Planning Commission.
Jay was honored by the Township Board of Supervisors for his service to both the Supervisors and the Guilford Water Authority, with a Resolution adopted November 5, 2020.
Jay was a devout Christian and attended Solomon’s United Church of Christ, where he taught the Men’s Bible Class of over 43 years.
Jay loved to travel with his wife Dorothy and traveled extensively in the Caribbean visiting almost every destination.
The following are memories and observations submitted by his fellow members of the Franklin County Bar Association:
Mr. Benedict was one of the attorneys that had the quiet demeanor that seemed to be a common trait of attorneys of his generation. I cannot recall any particular dealings with him, but I enjoyed discussions with him at bar events when I was a young lawyer. President Judge Shawn D. Meyers
I got to know Jay very well during my 40-year tenure as a director of Franklin Financial Board of Directors. Jay was chairman of the board for about 20 years.
Jay did an excellent job of chairing that Board and keeping discussions focused. He was always professional and eager to bring unanimity to decisions while respecting opposing points of view.
He was very well read and particularly enjoyed history and biographies. He loved to travel in the Caribbean.
In his retirement years he collected local history vignettes, political cartoons, jokes, conservative writer’s columns and other eclectic articles and collated them into his “musings” booklets that he distributed to friends. Interesting reading!
Our paths seldom crossed as practicing attorneys, but he was concerned for young attorneys and helpful to attorneys in matters of municipal law, his major practice area. Martha B. Walker, Esquire
Jay was generous with his time with young lawyers. He was strong in his political opinions and in his faith. He had a wry sense of humor. And he loved the Boston Red Sox. Edward I. Steckel, Esquire
I got to know Jay when as a young lawyer, having recently opened my office in Shippensburg, I as all lawyers did, back then, was searching titles in the Recorder’s office. Jay was always willing to give a tip about how to make this task simpler. As Martha Walker stated, Jay seemed to have an abundance of stories which he compiled into booklets and gave to others. Forest N. Myers, Esquire
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the members of the Franklin County Bar Association assembled at a Special Meeting to be held at a future date express our sympathy on the occasion of the loss of Jay L. Benedict, Jr., husband, father, grandfather and friend and colleague of the members of the Franklin County Bar Association. We will strive to keep his memory alive, for the strength, dedication and wisdom of those who have gone before us represent the foundation of the future generations of our profession.
Respectfully Submitted,
Memorial Resolution Committee
Franklin County Bar Association
Shawn D. Meyers, President Judge
39th Judicial District of Pennsylvania
Andrew J. Benchoff, Esquire
President, Franklin County Bar Association
Forest N. Myers, Esquire, Chair
George S. Glen, Esquire, Member