Richard Gillum ("Dick") Ferguson, 93, formerly of Harrisburg, died on Feb. 5, 2019, at Hinsdale, Illinois, which has been his principal residence since about 1953.
He was born in Harrisburg, at 114 W. Locust St., on June 15, 1925, the third child of Charles and Irene (McGehee) Ferguson. His parents descended from families who lived in what is now Saline County since before Illinois statehood in 1818. His father, Charles, for many years owned The Hummer grocery store on the east side of the public square.
Soon after Dick's birth, the family moved to southern California, and Dick was raised in California and Arizona until the family returned to Harrisburg when he was about 10 years old. Dick attended the public schools in Harrisburg, graduating from Harrisburg High School in the class of 1943. He played trumpet in the high school marching band, and music remained a lifelong passion.
Among the close friends who remained dear to him as long as they lived were Val Oshel, Kenneth Moore, Homer Fulkerson and Jean Boatright.
After high school, Dick enrolled in the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, but withdrew to enlist in the United States Army, being sworn into the service at the old Chanute Air Base at Rantoul. He served in the army throughout World War II, but did not go overseas, and near the close of the war he was appointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point. He resigned from West Point after the war ended and re-entered the University of Illinois.
Before graduating, Dick was accepted into Columbia University Law School in New York City, and graduated in 1950. He received his undergraduate degree in the same year.
In 1948, Dick married Alberta Ann Crebo of Harrisburg, in a ceremony at the First Baptist Church. Alberta was the daughter of the late W.R. Crebo of Trinidad, Colorado, and Alice (Lewis) Crebo, who taught in the Harrisburg public schools for many years.
After Dick received his law degree, the couple lived first in Springfield, where Dick worked in the Legislative Reference Bureau. Within a couple of years, Dick became associated with the law firm of Isham, Lincoln & Beale in Chicago. The couple moved first to Park Ridge, and then to the village of Hinsdale. From that point on, Dick's legal career was spent at the Isham firm, where he eventually rose to become head of the firm.
His own practice was chiefly concentrated in utilities law, and he served as lead outside counsel for the regional electric company Commonwealth Edison (now ComEd).
Following his retirement from the law in 1987, Dick and Alberta maintained a residence in Hinsdale, but spent considerable time at their second house in Fort Myers, Florida. Alberta died in 1993, and Dick remained a widower until his death a quarter century later.
Until his last few years, he was an avid golfer. He maintained a lifelong love for classical music, and also closely followed the fortunes of University of Illinois athletics, and professional sports teams in Chicago.
Dick and Alberta Ferguson had three sons: Gillum Ferguson (Vicki) of Harrisburg, Stanley Ferguson (Mary) of Northfield, Illinois, and Andrew Ferguson of Arlington, Virginia. All survive.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother Dale Ferguson of Harrisburg; his sister Margaret Gore of Shawneetown; and his nephew, Charles (Chuck) Ferguson of Harrisburg.
He is survived by his sons; six grandchildren (Thomas, John, Brooke, Gillum and Emily Ferguson, and Kate Sabo); six great-grandchildren; nieces Megan Hill, Julie Story, Melissa Van Steen and Martha Ferguson; and cousins George Henley of Harrisburg, Barbara Aaron, formerly of Harrisburg, now of Idaho, and James McGehee of Laguna Beach, California.
Dick will be laid to rest at Bronswood Cemetery, Hinsdale, beside his wife, in a private ceremony at a later date.
