University Law Prof. A.E. Dick Howard is considered one of the greatest and most influential Virginians in the 20th century, according to a Richmond Times-Dispatch and Virginia Library survey.
Virginia Library Senior Editor Brent Tarter said he and Times-Dispatch Commentary Editor Cordel Faulk surveyed between 40 and 50 political scientists, historians and journalists about the greatest and most influential figures in each century of Virginia's existence. Though Howard was not selected as the greatest or most influential Virginian in the 20th century overall, he was among the nominees, Tarter said.
Tarter called Howard "the father of Virginia's current constitution."
Howard served as executive director of a commission in 1968 to make recommendations about how to revise the Commonwealth's constitution, Tarter said. He later published a two-volume commentary on the constitution.
His commentary is a "very valuable and important reference source," Tarter said.
Howard said he has been fortunate to teach and write about a subject examined in both academic and public arenas.
"I've tried to combine scholarship, teaching and a commitment to public service," Howard said.
Of all his endeavors, Howard said he identifies the most with work in the classroom.
"I consider my academic work the heart of my professional life," Howard said. "Everything else revolves around that."
Howard has also contributed to the development of constitutions in foreign countries such as Brazil, the Philippines, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Albania and South Africa.
Howard said his advising work has allowed him "to put some of the most fundamental dreams into reality" and to mesh his academic work with public affairs.
"To even have a small hand in that, in Virginia and other countries, has been a wonderful opportunity," he added.
Civil rights attorney Oliver W. Hill, Sr. was named the greatest Virginian of the 20th century and former Virginia Gov. Harry F. Byrd Sr. was named the most influential.
Those who responded to the survey interpreted "influential" as both positive and negative.
"Influence is subjective," Tarter said. "It can be for good or bad."
Another University notable, Thomas Jefferson, was nominated as most influential Virginian for both the 18th and 19th centuries.
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