Judge Rolland F. Tipsword

Retired Judge and Former State Representative Rolland F. Tipsword , 81, of Taylorville, died Thursday, April 5, 2007, at St. Vincent's Hospital in Taylorville, Illinois. 
He was born August 19, 1925 in Monticello, Illinois, the son of Leo Clemit and Jossie Banning Fortner Tipsword. He graduated from Beecher City Community Unit High School in 1943. Mr. Tipsword graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of ldaho in 1949 where he was a member of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. He graduated with honors from Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago in 1951. He was admitted to the Illinois Bar in September, 1951. He served in the United State Navy, Pacific Theatre, during the years of 1942 -1946. 
Mr. Tipsword served as Clerk to Illinois Supreme Court Justice Harry Hershey from the years 1951-1954 and 1957 -1960 and, later, became an associate partner in the Hershey & Bliss Law Firm. He served as Christian County State's Attorney during the years of 1960 - 1966. Mr. Tipsword was a partner in the Tipsword & Fraley Law Firm and which later became the Coale, Taylor, Tipsword, Fraley & Doyle Law Firm of Taylorville. 

Mr. Tipsword was elected to Illinois State Representative House serving Districts 50 and 51 during the years of 1966- 1979 He served as Circuit Judge, 4th Judicial District of Illinois from 1983 to 1993. Mr. Tipsword served on the Illinois Supreme Court Committee to Prepare First Illinois Pattern Jury Instructions, and was elected as a delegate to the 1980 Democratic National Convention. He was Past President of the Christian County, Illinois Bar Association. 

Judge Tipsword was extremely active in the Grand Chapter Order of the Eastern Star of Illinois and the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free & Accepted Masons of Illinois. He received the Meritorious Service Award in 1975, and the 33rd Degree, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction in 1977. He also served as Worthy Grand Patron of the Order of the Eastern State in 1970. He was a member of the Haslemere Chapter, #221, in Taylorville, Illinois and a member of the White Shrine of Jerusalem in Springfield. 

Rolland was a member of the First Presbyterian Church where he served as a past deacon and Elder. He also held membership in the Taylorville Elks Club, Taylorville Eagles Club, Taylorville Moose Club, American Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was a charter member of the Taylorville Kiwanis Club. 

Mr. Tipsword never married. He is survived by many cousins and friends. 

Visitation will be Tuesday, April 10, 2007, from 4:00 - 8:00 P.M. at the First Presbyterian Church, 116 East Franklin Street, Taylorville. Masonic Rites and the