SPS honors 2013 Hall of Fame inductees

Springfield Public Schools today held a ceremony to honor its 2013 Hall of Fame selections.

The Hall of Fame spotlights district graduates who have given back to the community, received accolades in their industries and are advocates for public education, according to a news release.

This year's honorees are John Dickey and Elaine Graham Estes.

A 1945 graduate of Central HIgh School, Dickey spent his career as a litigator for New York-based Sullivan & Cromwell, where he worked more than 50 years.

After attending public school in Springfield, Dickey went on to study at Oxford University in England before earning his law degree from Harvard University.

In his career as an attorney, Dickey litigated cases in 18 states, Washington, D.C., Europe and South America, and won a 5-4 decision in a case he argued before the Supreme Court to determine the power of trustee in a corporate bankruptcy, according to the release.

Estes, a 1949 graduate of Lincoln High School, dedicated much of her career to historic preservation, including 39 years - 19 as director - at the Public Library of Des Moines in Iowa.

As director, Estes oversaw the construction of two branches, developed several outreach programs and helped Des Moines secure recognition as the Library of Congress' 11th State Center for the Book, according to the release. The state centers carry out the national center's mission of promoting literacy.

Estes retired in the mid-1990s.

The Hall of Fame ceremony was scheduled 11:30 a.m. at Bass Pro Shops' White River Conference Center.