In Memory of John F. Kay Jr., a VBA Stalwart   

Around the time that my term as VBA President began, I received a package from Jack Kay, who ably served as VBA President in 1982. Jack was an old family friend because my father and he had become close friends through the VBA. In recent years, Jack enjoyed retirement with his beloved wife, Sarah, at their home in West Virginia, especially during visits from his children and grandchildren. The package that I received from Jack contained pages from old VBA Journals that Jack thought would be of particular personal interest to me, and he had carefully highlighted the passages that he thought were most pertinent. The package also contained a note from Jack, sending his best wishes regarding my new role with the VBA. 

 

This kind, thoughtful gesture captured the essence of Jack Kay, who died on August 13th at the age of 84. A Marine who rose to the rank of captain during his service in the Korean War, Jack earned both his undergraduate and law degrees from Washington and Lee University, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Order of the Coif, and Omicron Delta Kappa, and served as editor of the law review. In 1957, Jack joined Denny, Valentine and Davenport in Richmond, which became Mays and Valentine, and he became a pillar of that firm (now Troutman Sanders). Jack was a superb practitioner who loved mentoring young lawyers. Those young lawyers were the beneficiaries of Jack's prodigious skill and talent as a trial lawyer, which earned him numerous professional accolades, including his induction as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, as a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, and as a member of the Judicial Conference of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, to name just a few.

 

Jack was a natural leader. The greatest testament to his leadership was the fact that, once Jack joined a board of an organization, he often became the president or chairman of that board. Aside from serving as President of the VBA, Jack served as President of the Virginia Board of Bar Examiners, President of the Washington and Lee Law School Association, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Collegiate School, among others. As President of the VBA in 1982, Jack oversaw many significant accomplishments, including laying the groundwork for the hiring of the VBA's first full-time Executive Director and the opening of the VBA's first permanent office in Richmond in early 1983.

 

When I left Jack's memorial service earlier this week, I could not help but reflect on the fact that I would never have had the privilege of knowing Jack Kay in a meaningful way had it not been for the VBA. Jack and Sarah will always be part of the VBA family and the VBA story. I have no doubt that Jack would understand my sentiment. In his last President's Page in The Virginia Bar Association Journal, which was published in early 1983, Jack wrote the following:

 

"A review of the reports on the specific activities and achievements of the Association and its committees shows, I believe, that it is fulfilling its goals and objectives through the hard work and dedication of a great number of its members. But such a report does not fully answer the question why The Virginia Bar Association is unique. The complete answer involves an intangible - but very real - ingredient which is best described as an "esprit de corps." It is a group spirit, a sense of pride and honor shared by its members who have joined together to work on matters in which they share a common interest. Its members are good lawyers and good men and women who are willing to give of their time and talent to improve the administration of justice for the benefit of all the people of Virginia. And, they are lawyers who enjoy one another in work and in play."

 

As always, Jack Kay hit the nail on the head. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.  
 

John L. Walker, III

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John L. Walker III 2013 VBA President
John L. Walker, III
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