Harold H. Purcell, 87, former Va. state legislator, judge, lawyer dies
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Harold Hidmore Purcell, a former Virginia legislator, circuit judge
and lawyer, died Saturday at his home in Louisa County. He was 87.
After earning his law degree from the University of Virginia, Mr.
Purcell served for three years in the Army during World War II. Upon
his discharge, he began a 17-year career in the General Assembly,
first in the House of Delegates and then as a state senator
representing the 26th District.
In 1958, as a member of the House of Delegates, Mr. Purcell, a self-
described "conservative Virginia Democrat," introduced the Uninsured
Motorist Act, which protects insured motorists from those who are
uninsured.
In February 1965, Mr. Purcell announced he would not seek re-election
to the state Senate. Less than a year later, he was appointed to the
16th Judicial Circuit, a position he held until resigning in 1979 to
join son Charles F. Purcell of Louisa in private practice.
"He was a very able jurist; he had a keen and insightful mind," said
longtime friend and colleague Judge F.W. Harkrader Jr. "He was a very
diligent worker and took his duties very seriously."
In a letter announcing that he was leaving the bench, Mr. Purcell
wrote "it has always been my dream to practice law with my son,"
according to a 1978 Times-Dispatch article.
A lifelong resident of Louisa County, Mr. Purcell served as an officer
and legal adviser to Louisa Land & Lumber Corp., owned by his father,
John Samuel Purcell.
Mr. Purcell also was a member of the board for National Bank & Trust
Co., now Wachovia, and was a member of the Louisa County Historical
Society.
In addition to his son, Mr. Purcell's survivors include his wife of 65
years, Virginia Omohundro Purcell of Louisa; another son, Harold W.
Purcell of Midlothian; four grandchildren and three great-
grandchildren.
A funeral will be held Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Louisa Christian Church,
104 Elm Ave. in Louisa. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery.
By JEREMY SLAYTON
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Hoodude
Harold Purcell; Democratic Va. Legislator For 17 Years
Saturday, July 21, 2007; Page B06
Associated Press
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/20/AR2007072002238.html
Harold H. Purcell, 87, a Democratic legislator in the Virginia General
Assembly responsible for the Uninsured Motorist Act, died July 14 at
his home in Louisa County, Va. No cause of death was reported.
Mr. Purcell served for 17 years in the General Assembly, first in the
House of Delegates and then as a senator representing the 26th
District. In 1958, he introduced the Uninsured Motorist Act, which
protects insured motorists from those who have no insurance.
Mr. Purcell earned a law degree from the University of Virginia and
then served in the Army during World War II. He was elected to the
House after being discharged.
He decided in 1965 not to seek reelection to the Senate and was
appointed to the 16th Judicial Circuit. He served as a judge until
1979, when he retired to join his son, Charles F. Purcell, in private
practice in Louisa.
In addition to his son, survivors include his wife, Virginia Omohundro
Purcell, of Louisa; a son, Harold W. Purcell of Midlothian; four
grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
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