Page 41 - 1983 VES Meteor

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By Drew Olmstead
"The Top Attorneys in Tide- water" was an article compiled by The Virginia Pilot of Norfolk, Virginia. This article examined
and questioned the top sixteen lawyers in Virginia. Two of the sixteen attorneys were gradu- ates of VES. The two alumni
were Robert Hughes '47 and Bill· Eley '39. Both men went to the University of Virginia Law
School and became excellent lawyers. The Virginia Pilot asked all 16 men questions that dealt
with a lawyer's career.
The Meteor would like to
congratulate these two alumni on being one of a few honored men selected as the best lawyers in Virginia.
ROBERT M. HUGHES ill Age: 54
High school: Virginia Episcopal School, Lynchburg '47
College: University of Virginia Law School: U.Va.
Film: Seawell, Dalton, Hughes &
Timms, Norfolk
Deaeribe your style: "Thorough
preparation and get right to the point."
What is the best thing a
lawyer in your field can provide? "For a trial lawyer an accurate evaluation as to the most proba- ble outcome of the case plus a
thorough and vigorous prepara-- tion and handling."
Even though he comes from three generations of lawyers,
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U S POSrAC£ PAID
Perm1tNo 65'1 Lynchburg, Va
Non·Prof1t Org
December 16, 1983
VOL LXVI-
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NO. 3
VIRGINIA EPISCOPAL SCHOOL, LYNCHBU,RG, VIRGINIA
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Robert Hughes
Hughes said he went to law
school only to help in the busi- ness world. The crew-cut Hughes has been with his firm since law school, specializing in the repre- sentation of marine in~fance companies and insurers of prod- uct manufacturers and business- es.
His peers deseribe him as: "Organization personified. A technical mind. I've seen him almost totally destroy people foisted on people as experts
when they really weren't, just tore them up." "One of the albest guys around. In court, he's very low-key to the point of being
boring. He does nothing but pre- sent the facts as they are without
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• Law sehool: University of Virgin-
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Film: Willcox, Savage, Dickson,
Hollis & Eley, Norfolk Describe your style: "If a case is sincerely presented, 'style' will
take care of itself."
What is the best thing a lawyer In your field can provide? "Being well-prepared - both in
the pre-trial and trial phases." a former prisoner of war, shot down over Rumania in 1944, Eley served as an assistant U.S.
attorney, president of the Nor- folk-Portsmouth Bar Association
and conscientious objector hear- ing officer. He represents vari- ous corporate, maritime and insurance interests.
peers deseribe bim as: "A real gentleman. Great, great common sense." "As tough as he is as a litigator, he's as nice as he
is tough." "A personality that is so warm and outgoing, you almost enjoy getting beat by Bill Eley." "A fine gentleman, very
By Scott lnge
On November 15, 1981, the
William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust chose VES to receive a challenge grant of $1,000,000. The challenge was met at 3:30
p.m. on November 14, 1983, with the final check arriving by Federal Expi'ess. Until now nothing of this magnitude has helped the financial situation at VES like this.
To qualify for the grant there was an elaborate procedure by
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which representatives of the trust judged VES. First, Head- master Zimmer had to provide
information about the school to the Trust. Then representatives ofthe Trust came and visited the
school. They also interviewed Mr. Zimmer in New York. On this basis, the Trust awarded the grant to VES.
In receiving the grant, the Trust required that VES use it only for it's endowment. It also stipulated that interest from the grant be used to augment faculty salaries, benefits, and scholar- ships, and is not to be used for physical improvements such as
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embellishment -
tion and gets great results."
WILLIAM B. ELEY Age: 61
High sehool: Virginia Episcopal School, Lynchburg '39
College: Princeton Universitv
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By Jon Warren
This year, the Curriculum
Committee is made up of thir- teen faculty members and two student representatives. They meet at least twice a month to discuss the academic life in school. Some of the issues which have already been brought up in
the past consist of the grading system and a discussion about course loads. Last year, the committee focused on how VES stands up to other boarding schools in the East. When the
report came back, we were similar to them in both curricular standpoint and also regarding goals which we wanted to achieve.
This year, the committee is looking Into how they can help 1tudent1 develop better 1tudy habit• and lkUI1. L u t month,
eighteen 1tudent1 were inter- viewed. Three from euh claa1 (7 12), one from the top, the middle IIICI th bottom of euh cla11. They were to JDMt with the member• of the
10d t.ell whether or M t thoupt the fatnakJ w11 ........... Ill u.. •.,
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Chairman, called a Committee meeting to discuss the results, In the seventh grade, the students said that their courses were not overloaded and that
they were receiving assignment sheets from all of their teachers and the tests that they were given were numerous but fair.
In the eighth grade the stu- dents replied that theo
ments were sometimes too long and they did receive l'tignment sheets in all of their cluaea except science, but it w11 not really needed. Some of them felt that they needed help with budgeting their time more ciently.
The ninth graden felt th•t they were not beinr ovWJ a orked at all and maybe they a llttle more work to help prepare for tile futUN.
The t.enlh ,.Uera cerned with the flatu.
Their main • TheJ
what the lla eJev•&ll . . .
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he avoids emo-
fair opponent."
William Eley
CutTiculum CoJntnittee Update
buildings. As a result, the endow- ment of the school has been rais- ed from $760,000 to nearly $3,000,000.
About the grant, Mr. Zimmer said, ~'The meeting of the Kenan challenge is the most significant
financial milestone in the history ofthe schooLIt gives me flexibili- ty to meet both the expected and unexpected demands of the future." The entire VES com-
munity is glad and thankful that the Kenan Charitable Trust chose us to receive this special award.
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