John Vance, 86, was also a lawyer.
(Family Photo)
(Family Photo)
| John Thomas Vance III |
Thursday, February 14, 2008
John Thomas Vance III, 86, former chairman of the Indian Claims Commission, died Jan. 15 at
the Emerson House nursing facility in Portland, Ore. He had Alzheimer's disease. After working
for most of his career in Montana, Mr. Vance came to Washington in 1968 as chairman of the
commission, which heard claims from Indian tribes against the U.S. government. Mr. Vance was
chairman for a year and continued to serve on the commission until it was disbanded in 1978.
the Emerson House nursing facility in Portland, Ore. He had Alzheimer's disease. After working
for most of his career in Montana, Mr. Vance came to Washington in 1968 as chairman of the
commission, which heard claims from Indian tribes against the U.S. government. Mr. Vance was
chairman for a year and continued to serve on the commission until it was disbanded in 1978.
After teaching law at the University of Toledo, Mr. Vance returned to Washington in 1988 as a
staff member of the Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs. He helped draft the Native
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990.
staff member of the Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs. He helped draft the Native
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990.
He retired from the committee in 1993 and joined the Semmes, Bowen & Semmes law firm in
Washington, practicing until 2001.
Washington, practicing until 2001.
Mr. Vance was born in Lexington, Ky., and grew up in Chevy Chase. He attended Western High
School in Washington and graduated from Christchurch School in Christchurch, Va.
School in Washington and graduated from Christchurch School in Christchurch, Va.
He graduated from the University of Montana and served in the Army in the Philippines during
World War II.
World War II.
After graduating from George Washington University's law school in 1950, he moved to Missoula, Mont., and established a law practice.
He later moved to Helena, Mont., where he worked with the Montana Trade Commission and as Helena city attorney. He was also an
officer with the Civil Air Patrol and served as Rocky Mountain regional commander.
He later moved to Helena, Mont., where he worked with the Montana Trade Commission and as Helena city attorney. He was also an
officer with the Civil Air Patrol and served as Rocky Mountain regional commander.
During his years in the Washington area, Mr. Vance lived in Chevy Chase and later in Annapolis. He moved to Tulsa in 2001 as a resident
scholar at the University of Tulsa College of Law and later lived in Montana and Portland, Ore.
scholar at the University of Tulsa College of Law and later lived in Montana and Portland, Ore.
His marriage to Camilla M. Vance ended in divorce.
Survivors include four daughters, Margaret Vance of Missoula, Katherine Vance of Coweta, Okla., Angela Vance of Polson, Mont., and Mary
Vance of Portland, Ore.; eight grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.
Vance of Portland, Ore.; eight grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.
-- Matt Schudel