Judge George Wendall Harris, Jr. of the “Richmond 34”

George Wendall Harris, Jr. – who came from Lynchburg, Virginia in 1959 to study at Virginia Union University – found himself, in his freshman year, involved in one of the great moments in Civil Rights history. He was among the students of VUU who marched to Downtown Richmond during on February 22, 1960 to stage a sit-in; and among the famous 34 arrested on “trespassing” charges for demanding service at the Thalhimer’s Department Store restaurant.

He went on to graduate from Virginia Union with a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Business Administration (1962); and to receive his Law degree from North Carolina Central in 1967. In September of 1967, Harris and future Congressman Bill Robinson passed the notorious Virginia Bar exam on their first attempt – a difficult task under even the most favorable of conditions.

Mr. Harris entered into legal practice in Roanoke shortly thereafter and in May of 1985 was appointed Judge of the General District Court of the 23rd Judicial District, which encompasses Roanoke City, Roanoke County, and Salem City. He is scheduled to retire on May 1, 2005.

He is married to Helen Kamm Harris, a graduate of Payne College. Judge & Mrs. Harris have one son, George Wendall Harris, III, and two grandchildren: grandson Justin, who is 17; and granddaughter Jordan, 10.

Judge Harris waxes enthusiastic about his Alma Mater, praising the “great education” he received there when he and others were contributing so much to the advancement of human rights and justice.

Raymond Pierre Hylton
Professor of History
Virginia Union University