Attorney James A. Sayer Jr., 98, died Sept. 16, 2010, after a short illness.

He was born Dec. 5, 1911, in Haverhill, Mass.

He graduated from Woodbury High School in 1929, served as class president, then went on to study at University of New Hampshire, Tufts University and Boston University Law School.

In 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and was accepted to Officer Candidate School. He served as a gunnery officer, attaining the rank of second lieutenant and continued his service through 1958 with the U.S. Air Force Reserves.

He passed the New Hampshire Bar in 1952 at age 40 and went on to serve as special justice in the Salem District Court from 1954 to 1975. He maintained a law practice in the Salem Depot until 2008.

Together with his brother Louie, Jim owned and operated many businesses, including Granite State Speedway in Dover and various drive-in theaters throughout the state of New Hampshire, one of which was the Ole Rock Drive-In at the current site of the Salem Post Office. Jim was active in town and state government, serving as the Salem town moderator from 1954 to 1966 and again from 1970 to 1972. He was a state representative to the General Court of New Hampshire from 1967 to 1975 and an active member of the Republican Party. Jim was a founding director of the Salem Boys and Girls Club and the Salem Kiwanis Club, and remained active in both throughout the years. As a 75-year member of Spicket Lodge, F &AM No. 85 of Salem, Jim served as lodge master in 1942. He was a long-time member of the American Legion and the Greater Salem Bar Association.