Collins Denny Jr.
Collins Denny Jr. | |
---|---|
Born | June 10, 1899 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
Died | January 14, 1964 |
Alma mater | Princeton University University of Virginia School of Law |
Occupation | Lawyer |
Spouse | Rebecca Smith Miller |
Children | 2 sons |
Parent(s) | Collins Denny Lucy Chase Chapman |
Collins Denny Jr. (1899–1964) was a Virginia lawyer who became known for his opposition to racial integration.[1] He was a legal counsel to public school boards, arguing against the integration of black students in Virginia.
Early life
Collins Denny was born on June 10, 1899, in Nashville, Tennessee.[1] His father, Collins Denny, was a Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.[2][3] His mother was Lucy Chase Chapman.[1] He had four sisters.[2] Denny and his family moved to Richmond, Virginia, in 1910, when he was eleven years old.[1]
Denny was educated in private schools in Richmond.[2][3] He began attending Princeton University, joined the Reserve Officers' Training Corps and received a commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Army in July 1918.[1] Although he was sent to Europe, Denny never saw combat in World War I before the war ended.[1] Upon discharge, Denny returned to Princeton, graduated in 1921, and then traveled to Charlottesville, Virginia, to attend the University of Virginia School of Law. He received an LL.B. degree in 1924.[1][2][3]
Career
Upon admission to the Virginia bar, Denny begun his legal career at the Richmond law firm of Wellford and Taylor. In 1926, he and Charles S. Valentine established a law firm that later became known as Denny, Valentine and Davenport. John R. Saunders appointed Denny Assistant Attorney General in 1930, and he served until 1934.[1][2][3]
Denny and his father opposed the unification of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South and the
In 1949, Denny defended the right of the
A vocal opponent of the United States Supreme Court decisions in
Denny also served on the Boards of Directors of the Richmond Federal Savings and Loan Association, the Miller Manufacturing Company, and Mason-Hagan.[2][3]
Personal life
Denny married Rebecca Smith Miller on September 10, 1932, in Brandy Station, Virginia.[1][2][3] They had two sons, Collins Denny III and Clifford Miller Denny.[2][3] They resided in Powhatan County, Virginia.[2]
Denny was a member of
Death and legacy
After years of poor health, Denny died on January 14, 1964, at home in Powhatan County, Virginia.[2][3] He was buried in Richmond's Hollywood cemetery, with instructions that contributions be made both to the white Virginia Education Fund and also to an organization that educated some black students during the closure, the Prince Edward Free School Association.[1] His papers are held in the special collections division of the University of Virginia library.[6]
References
- ^ Virginia Foundation for the Humanities. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
- ^
- ^
- ^ "A Guide to the Papers of Collins Denny, 1881-1962".