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Obituaries

Louise A. Halper

Louise A. Halper, professor of law and director of the Frances Lewis Law Center at Washington and Lee University, died June 21 in New Jersey from complications following surgery. She was 63.

Professor Halper joined the W&L law faculty in 1991 after practicing public interest law for 15 years. Her areas of teaching included property, jurisprudence, critical legal theory and environmental law.

Law school Dean Rodney A. Smolla said Professor Halper was a strong champion of the causes she believed in, including enhancing the diversity of the law school.

She traveled widely in the Middle East, including a stint as a Fulbright Fellow and visiting scholar in Turkey, and her most recent scholarship focused on law and gender in the Middle East.

A native of Columbia, S.C., Professor Halper graduated from Brandeis University and the Rutgers University law school. She received an LL.M. from New York University in 1991, the same year she joined the W&L faculty.

She is survived by her husband, Fred, a psychology professor in Newark, N.J., and two sons.

George Edwin Haw Jr.

George Edwin Haw Jr., a third-generation Hanover County lawyer, died June 21 in Richmond after a long illness. He was 87.

A native of Richmond, Mr. Haw joined the law firm of his father and uncle after attending Washington and Lee University and its law school. At the law firm that became Anderson, Haw, Parkerson and Beazley, Mr. Haw maintained a general law practice that included representation of landowners whose property was taken during the construction of Interstates 95 and 64.

Mr. Haw interrupted his college studies for service in the Army in World War II. He served as a medic and later saw action in the in the 45th Infantry Division in France and Germany.

Survivors include two sons, a daughter and six grandchildren.

Lester Wayne Dillard Jr.

Lester Wayne Dillard Jr., a World War II Navy veteran who practiced law in South Boston for more than 50 years, died June 20 at his home. He was 88.

A native of Spotsylvania County, Mr. Dillard was the stepson of Virginia Gov. William M. Tuck and joined the firm Tuck founded after graduating from the University of Richmond law school. The firm later became Tuck, Dillard, Nelson & Dillard.
Mr. Dillard maintained a general law practice until he retired in March 2006.

During World War II, he was assigned to the battleship USS Missouri and witnessed the Japanese surrender.

Mr. Dillard played basketball for four years at Hampden-Sydney College and was an avid golfer. He was inducted into the Halifax County-South Boston Sports Hall of Fame in April 2004.

Survivors include two daughters and six grandchildren.

Lorenza John “Jack” Hammack Jr.

Lorenza John “Jack” Hammack Jr., a lawyer in Lawrenceville for more than 40 years, died June 24 at his home at “Sherwood” near the town. He was 85.

Mr. Hammack had a general law practice from 1949 to 1986 and served as a commissioner in chancery for 10 years after closing his practice. A graduate of the University of Richmond law school, he served as a Brunswick County substitute judge from 1957 to 1963 and as commonwealth’s attorney from 1963 to 1971.

He served with the Army’s 45th Infantry in France and Germany in World War II and arrived at Dachau shortly after the concentration camp was liberated.

Survivors include two sons, a daughter and two granddaughters.

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