Stetson Lawyer; 1978 vol. 21 no. 1 August

STETSON LJWTTER Stetson University College of Law Volume 21, Number 1, August, 1978 E. HARRIS DREW, '23, EMINENT FLORIDIAN It matters not how long one lives, but how. Justice Drew, '23, and J. Ollie Edmunds, '25, presently University Chancellor, at a hap Stetson reunion in the early 70's. The papers reported that Justice E. Harris Drew, Class of '23, died February 9, 1978, from a heart attack, brought on when he stopped to help a stranded motorist and his leg became crushed between the motorist's disabled automobile and the Justice's pickup truck. Of course, the papers had to be referring only of the demise of the corporeal entity that was E. Harris Drew. The spirit and influence of this distinguished alumnus of Stetson College of Law, as attorney, author, administrator of justice and citizen extraordinary, will never die. Most Floridians will remember Justice Drew for his nearly two decades of service as a member of the state's Supreme Court, which included two terms as Chief Justice. During these two decades he participated in more than 20,000 cases and personally wrote approximately 2,500 opinions, many of which profoundly influenced the orderly development of Florida from a sparsely-settled pioneer state to one of the most prosperous and progressive in the nation. Countless others, particularly members of the legal profession, will recall the Justice's significant contribution to the jurisprudence of Florida by volunteer service far beyond the call of duty, notably as president of the Florida State Bar Association, as a member of the original committee for the preparation of the constitution and by-laws of The Florida Bar, as chairman of the appellate rules committee of the Supreme Court, and as an author and lecturer on timely subjects. The impact of his views on Workmen's Compensation laws are national in scope. And then there are those of us, alumni and friends of Stetson College of Law, whose lives have long been intertwined with the growth of the school, who can never forget how unsparingly he contributed his tremendous energy and astute qualities of leadership to enhance Stetson traditions. For eighteen years following its inception in 1967, he was a member, and several times an officer, of the Board of Overseers of the College; for the same length of time he was a member of the Law Center Foundation at St. Petersburg, created to foster the College's interests and needs, which he served first as president, and then as chairman of the Board. Whether expertly interpreting the American ideas of equality and justice under the law, or giving impetus to legal education as a candid counsellor, Justice Drew ever manifested a personal integrity that has been an inspiration and challenge to his peers and helped to preserve the faith of the people in legal processes. It surprised no one who knew him that, when he retired from the court, he was quickly chosen by Governor Askew to be the chairman of Florida's first ethics commission. The Justice died as he lived, reaching out a hand to help a fellow traveller. Warm, kindly, understanding and sincere, but uncompromising in matters of right and wrong, as a professional colleague or a personal friend, he greatly enriched the lives of all who came within the broad range of his influence. His diverse interests—disdaining scholarly accomplishments, he once modestly described himself as interested in "fishing, hunting, cabinet making and mechanical tinkering"—touched upon many facets of life and embellished all that he touched. Everett Cushman Professor of Law COLLEGE OF LAW BEGINS 79th YEAR Stetson College of Law will begin its 79th year of operation on August 18, with orientation, registration and the addition of five new faculty members. Dean Richard T. Dillon announced the appointment to the faculty of Howard L. Oleck, Alfred W. Meyer, Robert Dale Bickel, J. Baird Letter and Keith M. Casto. Howard M. Oleck Alfred W. Meyer Professor Howard L. Oleck was distinguished professor of law and served twice as dean of Cleveland State University College of Law. He has also been professor of law at Wake Forest University and New York Law School. He has been New York State special attorney-general and assistant to editor of New York Law Journal. Professor Oleck has been in general law practice in New York City and a law columnist with many newspapers. He has written a number of journal articles and books including Modern Corporation Law; Non-Profit Corporation, Organiza-