H. Eames Bishop, 88; Co-founder of the ALS Society of America

H. Eames Bishop, 88, co-founder of the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Society of America, which merged into the ALS Assn., has died of natural causes at an assisted living facility in Calabasas, his family announced Sunday.

A native of Pontiac, Ill., Bishop graduated from USC, where he was president of the student body and, as an alumnus, president of the Trojan Club and chairman of the General Alumni Fund.

He became a business executive, first with Music Corporation of America, where he scheduled appearances by big bands, including the Tommy Dorsey and Lawrence Welk orchestras.

He later worked for pharmaceutical companies and as a private management consultant.

Bishop became interested in ALS, commonly called Lou Gehrig’s disease, after his wife, Mary Frances, lost control of her muscles and was diagnosed with the nerve disorder in 1974.

The following year, he teamed with ALS patient Robert G. Dicus to found his group to raise funds for research. Bishop served as president and chief executive officer.

Both Bishop’s wife and Dicus later died of complications of the disease.

Among Bishop’s other community work was serving on the board of directors of Goodwill Industries. He was also a member of the Citizens Advisory Committee to former Los Angeles Mayor Sam Yorty.