SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 33
(By Senators Tomblin, Mr. President, McCabe and Rowe)
Memorializing the life of John L. McClaugherty, prominent attorney,
legal scholar, civic leader, promoter of the arts, former
Senate Judiciary chief counsel and dedicated West Virginian.
Whereas, John L. McClaugherty, a native of Princeton, Mercer
County, was born February 13, 1931. He graduated from Northwestern
University in 1953 with a B. S. degree and graduated from West
Virginia University College of Law in 1956 with a L. L. B. degree.
From 1956 to 1959, he served as a Staff Judge Advocate for the
United States Air Force, Lackland Air Force Base; and
Whereas, In 1959, John L. McClaugherty joined the law firm of
Jackson, Kelly, Holt & O'Ferrell, which is West Virginia's oldest
and largest law firm. He served as the firm's managing member from
1986 to 2002; and
Whereas, From approximately 1967 to 1975, John L. McClaugherty
served the Senate of West Virginia as chief counsel to the
Committee on the Judiciary under the leadership of his long-time
friend, the Honorable William T. Brotherton, Jr., who had been
appointed chairman; and
Whereas, Even after leaving the Senate, John L. McClaugherty's
legal knowledge and constitutional expertise was regularly sought
by Senator Brotherton who had been elected President of the Senate in 1973; and
Whereas, The professional involvement of John L. McClaugherty
earned him the respect and admiration of his fellow colleagues in
the legal profession which is evidenced by a lengthy list of
professional achievements. He specialized in constitutional law,
appellate law, legislative drafting, natural resources and workers'
compensation defense. His numerous legal affiliations included the
American Bar Association; American Judicature Society; Life Member,
Fellow and Past President, American Bar Foundation, of which he
served as West Virginia Chair in 2002; Fellow and Past President,
West Virginia Bar Foundation; Member and Past Member, Board of
Governors, West Virginia State Bar; Member and Past President, West
Virginia Bar Association; Member and Past President, Kanawha County
Bar Association; Life Member and former Executive Secretary, West
Virginia Judicial Council; Commissioner and Past President,
National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws;
Permanent Member, Judicial Conference of the United States Court of
Appeals for the Fourth Circuit; Permanent Member and Past
President, Eastern Mineral Law Foundation; Member, Committee to
Support Court Appointed Special Advocates; and an industry
representative on the Mandolidis Commission; and
Whereas, The name John L. McClaugherty became synonymous with
proactive leadership, a superior legal mind and true community
spirit. His involvement in community projects, activities and events was legendary. His civic-minded activities earned him
numerous awards and honors; and
Whereas, John L. McClaugherty's love of the performing arts
brought him to the presidency of the Board of Directors of the West
Virginia Symphony Orchestra, a position he held since 1982. He
served the American Symphony Orchestra League as Vice Chairman of
its Board of Directors and Executive Committee Member from 1990 to
2000. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Fund for
the Arts and he was Vice Chairman of the Clay Center for the Arts
and Sciences of West Virginia, of which he was immensely proud to
see nearly completed; and
Whereas, Whether he was in a courtroom, a committee room, a
board room or a symphony hall, John L. McClaugherty was, above all,
a true gentleman. His tenacious approach to fundraising for the
causes in which he truly believed was understood and admired by all
who knew him; and
Whereas, Sadly, the distinguished life of John L. McClaugherty
came to an end on March 4, 2003, leaving behind his lovely wife of
nearly fifty years, Sallie; son John and daughter-in-law Leslie and
their two sons, Carter and Addison; and daughter Martha and son-in-
law Brad Nepa and their two daughters, Maria and Angela; therefore,
be it
Resolved by the Senate:
That the Senate hereby memorializes the life of John L. McClaugherty, prominent attorney, legal scholar, civic leader and
promoter of the arts, former Senate Judiciary chief counsel and
dedicated West Virginian; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Senate is appreciative of John L.
McClaugherty's distinguished service to the West Virginia Senate as
chief counsel to the Committee on the Judiciary, along with his
continued availability to the Senate as a trusted and valued
consultant on various legislative issues through the years. Because
of his knowledge and expertise of the legislative process and
constitutional law, he was truly an invaluable legislative
resource; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Senate applauds the community
service and civic-mindedness of John L. McClaugherty, especially in
the realm of the performing arts; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward
a copy of this resolution to the family of the late John L.
McClaugherty.