John Simpson Hastings

John Simpson Hastings (June 30, 1898 – February 7, 1977) was a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

Early life and education John Simpson Hastings was born June 30, 1898, in Washington, Indiana. He graduated from Washington High School in 1916 and attended Indiana University from 1916 to 1918. He left IU to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. Hastings received a Bachelor of Science degree from West Point in 1920 and a commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Army Field Artillery. He reached the rank of first lieutenant before resigning from the army in 1921. After leaving the army, Hastings entered the Indiana University School of Law. In his senior year of law school, he won the Gamma Eta Gamma award for the highest scholastic average. Hastings graduated with a LL.B. in 1924. He practiced law in his hometown of Washington from 1924 to 1957.

Indiana University Hastings served as president of the Indiana University Alumni Association from 1933 to 1935. On June 17, 1935, Hastings and Uz McMurtrie, representing the IU Alumni Council, appeared before the IU Board of Trustees to propose the establishment of the Indiana University Foundation. Hastings was a charter member of the IU Foundation and served on its board of directors from 1936 to 1969. He was Vice President of the IU Foundation from 1951 to 1969. After his resignation, he was made an honorary director for life. He was survived by his wife, Mary Esther Smiley Hastings.

Honors Hastings received honorary LL.D.s from Indiana University in 1959 and Northwestern University in 1961. He received Order of the Coif from Phi Beta Kappa in 1968. Hastings received a law award from the Lincoln Academy of Illinois in 1967. He was also awarded membership into the Indiana Academy in 1972.