James Grimes Park, a longtime partner at the Buchanan Ingersoll law firm and former president of Union Electric Steel Corp., died Sunday at the Center for Compassionate Care of multiple myeloma. He was 77.

"He didn't toot his own horn very much, but I know he was very proud of the successes he had at the law firm," said Nancy Park, his wife of 55 years.

After 28 years in corporate litigation at Buchanan Ingersoll, where he often represented coal companies in disputes with utilities, Mr. Park grew weary of the frequent travel and pressure of trying cases.

"He told me he wanted to live to be 65 and if he didn't leave the firm he wouldn't make it," said Mrs. Park, of Mt. Lebanon.

So at the age of 53, Mr. Park began a new career at Union Electric Steel Corp. in Carnegie, where he retired as president in 1993.

After retirement, he turned his attention to public service as a board member at Presbyterian SeniorCare in Oakmont and on the Mt. Lebanon school board. He helped friends with their legal problems at no charge and played golf as much as time permitted.

Both of his parents were early settlers of Sewickley in the early 1900s and Mr. Park spent the early part of his life living there. He graduated from Sewickley High School, where he met his wife.

He graduated from Dickinson College in 1952 and from the Dickinson School of Law in 1954.

"He always enjoyed helping younger lawyers and many of them have told me he was a mentor for them and a help to them," Mrs. Park said. "He wanted to practice law as honestly as he could and he wanted to take care of his family, which he did nicely."

Surviving in addition to his wife are two daughters, Sally Park of Beaver Falls and Marilyn Korasidas of Boulder, Colo.; and a brother, Dale Park of Winnetka, Ill.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. today at Southminster Presbyterian Church, 799 Washington Road, Mt. Lebanon.