Background
John Reynolds was born in Salem, Oregon, to John and Sallie A. (née Truesdell) Reynolds on January 27, 1875. His father was a physician originally from Ohio.
John Reynolds was born in Salem, Oregon, to John and Sallie A. (née Truesdell) Reynolds on January 27, 1875. His father was a physician originally from Ohio.
He graduated with a bachelor of arts degree from the university in 1895, and then earned a masters of arts degree from Willamette in 1897.
A native of the state, he was the fourth dean of the Willamette University College of Law, the law school of his alma mater. The younger Reynolds earned his education at the public schools in Salem before enrolling at Willamette University, also in Salem. Reynolds continued his education at the University of Michigan where he earned a bachelor of laws degree from their law school in 1899.
Reynolds was admitted to the Oregon bar in June 1897 in Salem.
He started practicing law in Salem in September 1899 after law school, and continued there in private practice until June 1907. While still in private practice he became the dean of the Willamette University College of Law in June 1903.
He succeeded Samuel T. Richardson as the dean and also served on the board of trustees of the larger institution. During his tenure the university’s administration questioned whether the law school should continue to exist, as only four students earned degrees in a four-year period.
Reynolds was the fourth dean of the school, and served until 1908 when Charles L. McNary became the new dean
In June 1907, he left Willamette and moved to Portland to continue practicing, and continued in practice there until his death. Reynolds left the Willamette University Board of Trustees in June 1908. Reynolds was a partner in the firm Reynolds, Flegel, and Smith in the 1940s.
John Reynolds died of pneumonia on Sunday, April 5, 1942, in Portland at the age of 67 and was entombed at Riverview Cemetery in Portland.
He was a member of the Republican Party, but did not hold public office. He was a member of the board of trustees for the Centenary-Wilbur Methodist Church in Portland as well as a member of the Sons of the American Revolution.
