James Russell Prescott (1935-2012)

PRESCOTT, JOHNSON, CONKIN

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 9/15/2012 at 21:20:05

From Adams & Soderstrum Funeral Home obituary, Story County, Iowa:

James Russell Prescott

BORN: February 9, 1935
DIED: September 12, 2012
LOCATION: Ames, Iowa

James Russell Prescott, 77, of Ames died Wednesday, September 12, 2012, at home of esophageal cancer. Jim was born in Lincoln, NE, the son of Russell True and Irene (Johnson) Prescott. The family moved to Berkeley, CA, during World War II. Jim was an Eagle Scout and studied piano. After Jim graduated from high school he spent a summer in Belgium through the American Field Service. This had a profound effect on him and he was interested in world affairs and learning about other cultures the rest of his life. Jim considered studying to be a concert pianist but decided instead to attend CAL-Berkeley to study economics. He was initiated into Phi Beta Kappa as a junior and graduated summa cum laude from CAL.

Jim was proud to have been in ROTC, served in the U.S. Army (1957-58), and retired as Captain in the U.S. Army Reserves. He received his M.A. and Ph.D. from Harvard University (Cambridge, MA). Jim came to Iowa State to teach in the Economics and Statistics Departments in 1963. He enjoyed working with students and especially liked his interactions with graduate students. Jim published extensively in the area of urban and regional economics. He was proud of the books and papers he published and also the wide variety of courses he taught at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Jim also taught one year each at UCLA and Temple University (Philadelphia). He worked in several foreign countries including Peru, Zambia, Iran, and Guatemala. One award he was especially proud of was the Wilton Park International Service Award (1987).

Jim enjoyed bird watching at home and around Ames and he loved to feed the birds in the winter. He played the piano and in retirement took up woodworking and art in various forms. His woodworking was displayed in three exhibits in central Iowa. Jim loved to write limericks. He and his wife traveled extensively in the US and abroad.

Jim married Jermaine Conkin on December 21, 1966, at State Center, Iowa. He is survived by his wife Jeri, son Scott (Sara) and grandchildren Anthony, Andrew, and Alyxandra of Powell, WY. He is also survived by a nephew and two nieces all living in California. Jim was preceded in death by his parents and brother Jack. His cremains will be buried at Hillside Cemetery, State Center, Iowa.

To remember Jim, an open house will be held at the family home Sunday, September 16, from 3 until 6 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the William Bliss Cancer Center, Good Neighbor Emergency Assistance (both in Ames) or to a charity of the donor's choice. Because Jim valued creativity, he has established a scholarship fund for economics graduate students who demonstrate creativity in their research.

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