JOHN P. RODDY was born in Iowa, raised in Chicago and studied in Wisconsin. He graduated in 1942 from Lawrence University, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. While at Lawrence University, he played varsity football, Was active in dramatics, elected president of the drama Club and to National Collegiate Players, he was also Treasurer of social fraternity Delta Tau Delta.

Following graduation John Roddy served in the Army Air Force as a cryptographer, stationed in Africa and Italy until December 1945. After discharge from military duty, John Roddy entered DePaul University Law School in February 1946. In February of 1948, he graduated with a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree.

While at DePaul, he represented the University in the annual moot court competition. He was awarded the scholarship key of Delta Theta Phi legal fraternity.

Following admission to the Illinois Bar in May of 1948, he became associated with the Phoenix-London Insurance Group as Workers’ Compensation trial attorney and served in this capacity until October of 1951. He then joined the firm of Heineke and Conklin, a firm specializing in the field of defense for insurance companies doing trial work in the various courts of Cook County.

In 1953, he joined Employers Mutual Liability Insurance Company of Wisconsin as head trial attorney for Workers' Compensation in Illinois, under the firm name of Price, Roddy and Schlager. While there he handled other litigation in addition to Workers' Compensation.

In 1959, he joined the firm of Peregrine, Gifford, Moore and Peregrine. The name was changed to Gifford, Moore, Roddy and Power in the early 1960s and later to Gifford, Roddy, Power & Detuno. He specialized in the defense of Workers' Compensation cases before the Illinois Industrial Commission, and in the handling of appeals to higher courts. In 1970, he and John F. Power founded the firm of Roddy & Power, continuing to specialize in Workers' Compensation Defense.

He served as a member of the American Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, and Chicago Bar Self-Insureds Association. He was President of the Workers' Compensation Lawyers Association. He is past Chairman of the Industrial Commission Committee of the Chicago Bar Association and Illinois Bar Association. He has lectured on Workers' Compensation for the Chicago Bar Association, Illinois Bar Association and the Institute for Continuing Legal Education. He is one of the authors of the book "Illinois Workers' Compensation Practice" published by the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education in 1990.

That year, Chairman Malooly appointed him to the rules committee for Arbitration Proceedings.

John retired in 2000, but to this day continues to provide our firm with his wise counsel and inspiration.

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