Rothwell J. “Jack” Lillard was born in 1910 in Ruckersville. After receiving his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia in 1934, Mr. Lillard taught school and became a principal of Madison County High School. Reportedly, he intimidated even the biggest farm boy, giving misbehaving students the choice of a paddling or writing an essay-- with most being too proud to choose the essay. He joined the Navy in World War II where he received the rank of Lieutenant Commander and was placed in command of the Pre-Flight Training Center in Pensacola, Florida. Apparently his only qualifying “flight experience” was participating in flyovers for crop inspections as a part of the New Deal program.

Following the war, Mr. Lillard attended the University of Virginia Law School on the G. I. “Bill of Rights.” He served as president of the UVA law class of 1948. After graduation, he joined the Fairfax law firm of Richardson and McCandlish, having been personally interviewed and recruited by Richard McCandlish. Mr. Lillard became a partner in 1952 and was named of counsel in 1977, a position he maintained until 1987.

Mr. Lillard was described as a tall and imposing man, who, by the age of 50, looked like a combination of George Washington and Michelangelo’s Moses. Shown is a picture of Mr. Lillard at his retirement as partner in 1977 taken at the Fairfax Country Club.

It was also said that he did not so much argue the law to a judge as simply proclaim it, and through the years compiled an impressive record in the Virginia Supreme Court with eight reported cases between 1957 and 1971. At one point he was considered a serious candidate for appointment to the Virginia Supreme Court.

In addition to practicing law, Mr. Lillard was engaged in civic, charitable, and professional activities, rising to the top of the local bar. Two years after being licensed, he was on the Executive Committee of the Fairfax Bar Association and was its President in 1952. He was a Boy Scout Troop leader, a Fairfax Hospital Association Trustee, involved in the founding and development of Fairfax Hospital, Chairman of the American Cancer Society’s local fund drive, vestryman and Senior Warden of Truro Episcopal Church, and a member of the Fairfax Chamber of Commerce. He was a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, Member of the Rules Committee, Virginia Bar Council, and Fellow of the Virginia Law Foundation, Class of 1985.

Mr. Lillard died in 1989 at age 79.