Chesterfield, Virginia — Walter Alexander McFarlane is being recognized by Continental Who’s Who as a 2022 Lifetime Legacy for the successes he has garnered in the field of Law in acknowledgment of his role as Professor Emeritus at the University of Richmond.
Walter Alexander McFarlane has attained over 50 years in the field of Law. Before attaining emeritus status in 2015, Mr. McFarlane served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Richmond from 1977 to 2015. An educator with vast knowledge and diversified experience, he served as the Executive Assistant, Chief Counsel and Director of Policy at the Governor’s Office in the Commonwealth of Virginia from 1990 to 1994 and Superintendent in the Department of Correctional Education with the Commonwealth of Virginia from 1994 to 2010. Mr. McFarlane has also succeeded in the roles of Assistant Attorney General with the Office of the Virginia Attorney General from 1969 to 1973, Deputy Attorney General in the Office of the Virginia Attorney General from 1973 to 1990, Acting Director of the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice in 1997, and Consulting Attorney for three Virginia governors between 1994 and 2010.
An academic scholar, Mr. McFarlane graduated from Emory & Henry College, obtaining his Bachelor of Arts Degree. Later, he earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Richmond. He has been admitted to practice law in Virginia and before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth and D.C. Circuits, and the U.S. Supreme Court.
A respected voice in his field, Mr. McFarlane continuously shared his expertise and contributed articles to professional journals. He has maintained active involvement with several professional organizations, including the Virginia State Bar Association, Chesterfield Bar Association, and the Virginia Correctional Association as President. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Woodland Pond Home Owners Association, the Meadowbrook Country Club, and the Richmond Bar Association from 1989 to 1993. He was additionally on the board for The American Correctional Association, the Emory & Henry College Alumni Association as president, and the Richmond Bar Association on its Board of Directors.
In addition, Mr. McFarlane sat on the state board of the Department of Criminal Justice Services for 16 years and on the board of the State Water Commission from 1994 to 1996. At this time, he also maintained civic involvement with the Central Virginia chapter of the Epilepsy Foundation of Virginia, the Greater Midlothian Civic League, the Mount Pisgah United Methodist Church as the chairman of the building committee, the American Red Cross and the Windsor Forest Civic Association, where he served as president from 1975 to 1976.
In recognition of his acclaimed career, Mr. McFarlane has been awarded many professional accolades and honors. While serving at the University of Richmond, Mr. McFarlane was named the A.L. Philpott Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Law in 2003. In light of his excellent service in the military, he received the National Defense Medal and the U.S. Air Force Commendation Medal. Additionally, he was the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Virginia Correctional Association, the J.D. Buscher Distinguished Attorney Award from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the John C. Vance Legal Writing Award from the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Science and Engineering, and the Fourth Annual Outstanding Evening Lecturer Award from the University of Richmond.
On a personal note, Mr. McFarlane enjoys hunting, photography, and reading during his spare time.