People

Robert W. Dodd, 75, of Champaign passed peacefully at home on March 28.

Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. April 2 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Urbana. Father Joe Hogan and Father Ronald Dodd will officiate. Burial will be in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Champaign.

Mr. Dodd was the president and managing attorney for Dodd & Maatuka in Champaign. He was mayor of Champaign from 1983-1987.

Survivors include his wife of 43 years, Joyce; his six children, Cathy Dixon of Aurora, Steve (Jill) Klein of Paxton, Joan Harry of Indianapolis, Ind., Jean Wynn of Champaign, Brenda Nelson of Champaign and Jim (Marnie) Klein of Indianapolis, Ind.

Mr. Dodd was the grandfather of 13 children and the great-grandfather of 10 children. He is also survived by his siblings, Carol Maroon of Florida, Fran (Tom) Frederick of Florida, Rita of Chatham, Father Ronald Dodd of O'Dell and Brother John Dodd of Las Vegas, Nev.

Mr. Dodd was preceded in death by his parents, Warren and Florence Dodd; his brother, Gene Dodd; and a grandson, Jeremy Nelson.

Memorials may be made to St. Patrick Church Building Fund.

Miles William Hughes, 44, known for his singular wit, passion for life and love of his family, passed away suddenly in the arms of his lifelong love, Leigh Ann Hayward Hughes, in Oak Park on March 17.

Miles met Leigh Ann while in Raa Middle School in Tallahassee, Florida, forming a strong friendship that blossomed into love, marriage and two adored children, Ragan 16, and Reece 10.

He was born on June 20, 1968 in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, to William and Jane Hughes, joining his sisters, Cindy and Sallie. They moved to Tallahassee in 1977, where Miles grew up in the extended family First Presbyterian Church. Miles graduated from Lincoln High School in 1986 before attending the University of Florida, where he received a Bachelor's degree in political science with a minor in history.

Miles married Leigh Ann on May 16, 1992, in Tallahassee. He attended Florida State University College of Law, where he served on the law review and earned a JD in 1997. He was honored to clerk for Justice Ben Overton of the Florida Supreme Court. At the time of his passing, he was an Income Partner for the McDermott, Will & Emery law firm in Chicago. 

Paul M. Scoma, 60, of Princeton passed away Monday, March 11, 2013, at his home.

Paul was born Nov. 14, 1952, in LaSalle to Charles and Anne (Kump) Scoma. He married Nancy Forgus May 5, 1979, in the Kent State University Newman Center Chapel in Kent, Ohio. She survives.

Paul graduated from LaSalle-Peru High School in 1970 and continued his education at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, graduating in 1974. He was subsequently hired by Union Oil Co. of California in marketing and worked there for five years until 1979 when he enrolled in law school. Paul received his Juris Doctorate from Loyola University School of Law in Chicago in May 1982. He elected to begin his law career near his hometown with the Princeton law firm now known as Russell, English, Scoma and Beneke, PC, where he became a partner and practiced for 28 years until his retirement at the end of 2010.

He was an active member of St. Louis Catholic Church where he served as a Trustee and lector. He was a Trustee and Board President for the Adeline E. Prouty Charitable Trust (Greenfield Retirement Home). Paul also served as Director and Board Chairman for the Perry Memorial Hospital. He was a member of the Illinois State and Bureau County Bar Associations as well as the Knights of Columbus.

Neal & Leroy, LLC (“Neal & Leroy”) celebrates its 75th anniversary this year.  The firm traces its origin back to 1938 when Earl J. Neal began his law office in Chicago, IL.  Earl J. Neal practiced law until 1962 when he became a Cook County magistrate and later an Associate Cook County Circuit Court Judge.  In 1955, his son Earl L. Neal joined the firm working side-by-side with father handling trial work.  Earl L. Neal accepted responsibility as principal after his father was appointed judge. In 1968, he formed, Earl L. Neal and Associates, and continued to handle trial work for the City of Chicago and other public agencies.

In 2005, the firm’s name changed to Neal & Leroy.  It is believed to be the longest operating African-American owned law firm in Illinois.  Langdon D. Neal, son of Earl L. Neal, began practicing with the firm in 1981 and is currently the firm’s principal and owner.Over the past seven decades, Neal & Leroy has consistently maintained a strong governmental and institutional practice performing legal services in all areas of real estate law including eminent domain, zoning and land use, tax increment financing, and real estate transactions, among others; and governmental and municipal affairs services.