Willis Padgett Whichard (1940- ) was a lawyer, judge, legislator, and educator. He served as a member of the North Carolina General Statutes Commission, 1969-1973; the Southern Growth Policies Board, 1971-1980; the North Carolina House of Representatives, 1970-1974; and the North Carolina Senate, 1975-198. From 1980 to 1986, he was judge of the North Carolina Court of Appeals, and, from 1986 through 1998, he was an Associate Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. On 1 July 1999, Whichard became dean of the School of Law at Campbell University in Buies Creek, N.C.
From the description of Willis P. Whichard papers, 1965-1998. WorldCat record id: 38235581
Willis Padgett Whichard (1940- ) was a lawyer, judge, legislator, and educator. He served as a member of the North Carolina General Statutes Commission, 1969-1973; the Southern Growth Policies Board, 1971-1980; the North Carolina House of Representatives, 1970-1974; and the North Carolina Senate, 1975-198. From 1980 to 1986, he was judge of the North Carolina Court of Appeals, and, from 1986 through 1998, he was an Associate Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. On 1 July 1999, Whichard became dean of the School of Law at Campbell University in Buies Creek, N.C.
24 May 1940
Born to Willis Guilford and Beulah Padgett Whichard.
1946
1958
Attended Durham City Schools.
4 June 1961
Married Leona Irene Paschal and they had two children, Jennifer Diane and Ida Gilbert.
1962
A.B., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
1965
J.D., University of North Carolina School of Law.
1965
Member of the American Bar Association, the North Carolina Bar Association, the Durham County Bar Association, North Carolina State Bar, Order of the Coif, Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Alpha Delta, and Phi Delta Phi.
1966
1980
Practiced law with the firm of Powe, Porter, Alphin and Whichard in Durham, N.C.
1965
1966
Law Clerk to William H. Bobbitt (Former Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court).
1966
1972
Served in the Army National Guard and was a life member of the National Guard Association.
1966
1975
Durham Jaycees
1968
1969
March of Dimes (Durham County) Campaign Director.
1969
1974
Chapter Chairman of the National Foundation of the March of Dimes.
1970
1974
Served in the North Carolina House of Representatives.
1971
1973
1975
1977
Member, Legislative Research Commission
1971
Recipient of the Distinguished Service Award of Young Man of the Year in Durham.
1971
1979
Board member, Durham County Chapter of the American Red Cross.
1971
1978
Transition of Youth, Inc.
1971
1980
Southern Growth Policies Board (Vice-Chairman, 1975-1978).
1972
1973
Member, Governor's Advisory Committee on Youth Development.
1972
1975
Senior Citizens Coordinating Council.
1973
1977
Member, Durham YMCA Board of Directors.
1974
Member, Kiwanis Club of Tobaccoland.
1975
Outstanding Legislator Award, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers.
1975
Outstanding Youth Service Award, North Carolina Juvenile Correctional Society.
1975
1980
Served in the North Carolina Senate.
1978
1979
President, University of North Carolina Law Alumni Association.
1980
1986
Judge, North Carolina Court of Appeals.
1983
Outstanding Appellate Judge Award, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers.
1984
LL.M., University of Virginia.
1986
1998
Associate Justice, North Carolina Supreme Court.
1987
Member, North Carolina Central University School of Law Board of Visitors.
1988
1994
Member, North Carolina Child Advocacy Institute Board of Directors.
1988
Chair, North Carolina Supreme Court Permanent Families Task Force.
1991
1994
Member, Straight Talk Blue Ribbon Panel.
1992
Braxton Bragg Craven American Inn of Court (President, 1995).
1993
Member, North Carolina Courts Commission.
1994
S.J.D., University of Virginia. Dissertation: The sixth justice: a life of James Iredell.
1999
Dean, Norman A. Wiggins School of Law, Campbell University.
(Source: North Carolina Manual, 1983, p. 787; Clipping Collection, North Carolina Collection, University of North Carolina Library.)
From the guide to the Willis P. Whichard Papers, 1965-1998, (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.)