Major M. Hillard

Major McKinley Hillard (October 23, 1896 – June 24, 1977) was a Virginia politician and judge from Chesapeake, Virginia.

Major M. Hillard
Member of the Virginia Senate
from the 3rd district
In office
January 13, 1932 – April 21, 1954
Preceded byLloyd E. Warren
Succeeded byGordon F. Marsh
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates for Norfolk and South Norfolk
In office
January 11, 1928 – January 13, 1932
Preceded byQuinton C. Davis, Jr.
Succeeded byEdward T. Humphries
Personal details
Born
Major McKinley Hillard

(1896-10-23)October 23, 1896
Morgan, Tennessee, U.S.]
DiedJune 24, 1977(1977-06-24) (aged 80)
Chesapeake, Virginia, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseMary Frances Cherry
Alma materCollege of William & Mary
University of Richmond
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Battles/warsWorld War I

Early life and career

Hillard was born in Morgan County, Tennessee on October 23, 1896. His family moved to the Deep Creek borough of Norfolk County, Virginia (now the city of Chesapeake) in 1907.[1]

Hillard served in the U.S. Army in World War I, after which he attended the College of William and Mary and the T.C. Williams Law School at the University of Richmond. He practiced law in Portsmouth, Virginia beginning in 1926. He married Mary Frances "Merle" Cherry (1895-1989) in about 1921. They had a son and a daughter.

Political career

Hillard and was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates as a Democrat in 1927, representing Norfolk County and the City of South Norfolk and he was reelected in 1929. In 1931, he was elected to the Virginia Senate representing the 3rd District which he held until he resigned in 1954 upon being appointed Circuit Court Clerk for Norfolk County.

Career on the bench

Hillard was appointed a Circuit Court judge in 1961. He used his political savvy and was instrumental in the merger of Norfolk County with South Norfolk to form the city of Chesapeake in 1963.[2]

He retired from the bench in 1971, but continued serving the community in a variety of ways, such as at Deep Creek Baptist Church and the Deep Creek Ruritan Club.

Death and memorials

The Major Hillard library is a public library in the City of Chesapeake that was named in Hillard's honor. Hillard died in June 1977 in Chesapeake, Virginia.[3]

References
  1. What's in a name-Major Hillard Library, The Virginian-Pilot, December 12, 2008
  2. What's in a name-Major Hillard Library, The Virginian-Pilot, December 12, 2008
  3. Social Security Death Index
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