Oil on canvas, 30 x 26 in., by Mordi Gassner, undated
Location: courtroom, left

Born September 14, 1864 in Isle of Wight County, Virginia
Died October 4, 1947 in Staunton, Virginia

Appointed by Governor Harry F. Byrd on April 24, 1928 to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Martin Parks Burks and began his service on June 1, 1928. Elected by the General Assembly on January 20, 1930 to complete the unexpired term of Burks. Elected on February 4, 1942 to a regular 12-year term beginning February 1, 1943. Service terminated by death.

Succeeded Preston White Campbell as chief justice when he retired on October 1, 1946. Service terminated by death.

Education:
Virginia Military Institute, C.E., 1886
Washington and Lee University, B.L., 1888

Other judicial service:
Judge, Corporation Court, Buena Vista, Virginia, 1893-1896
Judge, Corporation Court, Staunton, Virginia, 1900-1912
Judge, Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, 1912-1928
Judge, Special Court of Appeals, 1924-1928

Professional career:
Private practice of law in Wichita, Kansas, 1888-1891
Commandant, Staunton Military Academy, circa 1891
Private practice of law in Staunton, Virginia, 1892-1893

Military service:
World War I (National Guard)

Further reading/Research collections 

Sources:
Appointed justice and succeeded Campbell as chief justice, 150 Va., iii; elected to complete the term of Burks, Journal of the House of Delegates of Virginia, 1930 Regular Session, 70; elected to a 12-year term, Journal of the House of Delegates of Virginia, 1942 Session, 212; birth, death, education, and career, transcript of memorial and portrait presentation on January 9, 1948, published in 186 Va., cxix-cxxxi; portrait, Library of Virginia catalog; portrait presented to the court in 1947/1948, Proceedings of the Fifty-Eighth Annual Meeting of the Virginia State Bar Association, August 1948, 111.