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Jackson G. Akin died at the age of 91, in Albuquerque on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 after a short illness. Mr. Akin, the son of a Methodist Minister and a school teacher, was born in Lebanon, Kentucky on April 23, 1919. He graduated with highest honors from Washington and Lee University in 1940, and was awarded a scholarship to the Harvard Law School. After completing one and one half years at Harvard, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. During the war years he was awarded a citation by the Secretary of the Navy for the rescue of a number of people in the Boston Cocoanut Grove fire. As Captain of a Pacific Aviation rescue ship, he and his crew received a commendation from the Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific for outstanding service. Mr. Akin returned to Harvard after the war and graduated in 1947. Upon graduation, he joined the firm of Rodey, Dickason, and Sloan, and later became it's fourth partner. Mr. Akin's many legal accomplishments include successfully arguing the oft-cited case "Aetna vs. The United States" before the Supreme Court of the United States, which established the right of an insurance company to sue the government under the Federal Tort Claims Act. In 1963 he drafted the Joint Medical-Legal Plan for screening malpractice cases, which was adopted by the State Bar Association and Medical Society. Mr. Akin was the managing director of the Rodey, Dickason, Sloan, Akin and Robb firm for many years. He was also the president of the Albuquerque Lawyers Club, Commissioner of the New Mexico State Bar, Albuquerque Academy Trustee, member of the Albuquerque, New Mexico and American Bar Associations. In 2009 Mr. Akin was inducted into The Roehl Circle of Honor for trial lawyers. He retired in 1987 but continued to be of counsel for many years. Mr. Akin is survived by his loving companion Katherine B. Hauth, of Rio Rancho; Emily Akin Sattler and husband, Don of Richmond, Texas; Stephan Akin and wife, Lyda of Dallas, Texas; Don Akin of Phoenix Arizona; Scott Akin and wife, Christine of Berkeley, California; and grandchildren, Hillary, Lauren, Madison, Olivia, Travis, Finnian and Jude; and nieces Christy West and Valerie Grobe. A memorial service for Mr. Akin will be held on Friday, December 3, 2010, 11:00 a.m., at Central United Methodist Church, 201 University Blvd. NE, followed by a reception at the Albuquerque Country Club. In lieu of flowers the family request that donations be made in honor of Jackson G. Akin to the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, P. O. Box 30208, Albuquerque, NM 87199-0208 or (http://nmso.org). Please visit the online guestbook for Mr. Akin at: www.RememberTheirStory.com. FRENCH 1111 University Blvd. NE (505) 843-6333
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