John "Jack" V. Black

January 8, 1937 - August 20, 2016

John V. (Jack) Black, age 79, passed away August 20, 2016. He was born January 8, 1937 in Pratt, Kansas to Dr. Cyril V. (Doc) and Margaret J. (Koppers) Black. He graduated from Pratt High School in 1955, University of Kansas in 1959, Washburn Law School in 1963, and U.S. Army Judge Advocate General School at the University of Virginia. He served 4 ½ years as a JAG Officer in the US Army, the last 2 ½ years as the Post Judge Advocate in Vicenza, Italy. He married Janet McKinney in 1961 in Wichita, KS and was the best father one could ask for to three sons and a daughter. In 1968, the family returned to Pratt and Jack established Black’s Law Office and served as Pratt County Attorney from 1969-1977. He took cases to the Kansas Supreme Court that established strict liability and comparative negligence tort law and established precedence in Oil and Gas trespass in the State of Kansas. He was an active member in the Kansas Bar Association, Board of Directors and past President of the Southwest Kansas Bar Association and Pratt Bar Association. He was also a member of the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association and Past President of the Pratt Rotary club where he was a multiple Paul Harris Fellow. Jack was a member of the Ninnescah Livewires 4-H Club in his youth and volunteered and supported Pratt County 4-H and practiced Rotary’s motto of Service Above Self, providing legal services to form and support the following not for profit organizations in Pratt County for no charge: Pratt County 4-H Foundation, Pratt County Achievement Place, Pratt Teen Center, Meals on Wheels, B-29 Memorial Museum, Pratt County Historical Society, McCaslin Artists Series, Pratt Community Concerts, Girls Scout Council, Pratt Area Literacy, the American Legion, and the VFW. He and Janet were honored to be given the Kraisinger/Clarkson-Frisbie Service Award by the Pratt County Fair Association. He is preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include his wife, Janet; three sons, Thomas V. (Tom) and wife Melanie of Pratt, John P. of Howard, and Dr. Robert D. (Bob) and wife Shirley of Howard; one daughter, Rebecca (Becky) Snell and husband Keith of Wichita; seven grandchildren, Victoria (Tori), Abigail (Abby), Austin, Kathleen (Katie), Tyler, Evan, and McKenzie; two brothers, Dr. James F. (Jim) Black and wife Kathy of Marshalltown, IA, and Dr. William L. (Bill) and wife Diane of Colorado Springs, CO; one sister, Margaret Ellen and husband Ron Howell of Sacramento, CA; and sister in-law, Margaret McKinney of Wichita. Visitation will be Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. and Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. with family receiving friends Thursday from 6-8 at Larrison Mortuary, 300 Country Club Road, Pratt. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, August 26, 2016 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Michael Klagg presiding. Burial with military honors will follow at Greenlawn Cemetery, Pratt. Memorials may be made to Pratt County 4-H Foundation, Kansas 4-H Foundation for Sedgwick and Elk County, or Pratt County Historical Society in care of Larrison Mortuary.