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Harry Lillard Obituary

LILLARD, HARRY - long-time Oak Ridge attorney, alternate city judge and former county attorney, passed away Thursday, March 29, 2012 at his home. He was born in Athens, TN, June 28, 1930 the son of Wallace and Adeline Lillard, later of Jefferson City, TN. He graduated from Tennessee Military Institute in 1949 and received a bachelor's degree from Carson Newman College in Jefferson City in 1953. He graduated from the University of Tennessee with a bachelor of law degree and Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree in 1955. He was admitted to practice in all Tennessee State Courts in 1955, the US Federal Court in 1961 and the US Federal Court of Appeals in 1983. Mr. Lillard volunteered for the US Navy after passing the Tennessee Bar exam and served two years in charge of the legal office for Submarine Squadron 6. After leaving the Navy in 1957, he came to Oak Ridge and began practicing law as an associate of the late Roland Prince and the late Howard Woodside until Mr. Woodside was elected trial justice judge in 1958. He and Mr. Prince then established a partnership known as Prince and Lillard. When Mr. Prince was elected city judge in 1959, the Oak Ridge City Council appointed Mr. Lillard as one of the alternate city judges, a position he held until his death. Mr. Lillard later formed an association with the late Allen Kidwell and they practiced together until Mr. Kidwell was appointed Chancellor in 1975. He was elected President of the Anderson County Bar Association in 1979. On June 16, 2006, Mr. Lillard was awarded the title of Senior Counselor by the Tennessee Bar Association. After Mr. Kidwell's appointment as chancellor, Mr. Lillard formed an association with James B. "Buddy" Scott and they practiced together until 1978 when Mr. Scott was appointed Circuit and Criminal Court Judge. In 1962, he was elected county attorney for Anderson County, the duties of which included advising the Anderson County court and court officials, representing Anderson County in lawsuits involving condemning land and defended the county in court actions. He was re-elected three times and served a total of 12 years. Mr. Lillard practiced law in the Tyler Building, which was a copy of an original design by Sir Christopher Wren of London, England, which he built in 1988, until the time of his retirement in 2011. He was a member of the Oak Ridge Jaycees, the Anderson County Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Association and the American Trial Lawyers' Association, the Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Oak Ridge Rotary Club and the First Baptist Church of Oak Ridge. He is survived by two daughters, Lee Anne Lillard Hitch and husband Robert Hitch of Abingdon, VA and their three children, Mary Adeline Hitch, Carolyn Lee Hitch and Alice Anne Hitch of Abingdon and Joy Lillard and her children, T. J., Fox and Jamie Fox, all of Knoxville; a sister and brother-in-law, Judy Lillard Hughes and Tom Hughes, of Peachtree City, GA; a brother and sister-in-law, John and Gloria Lillard of South Daytona, FL; a special friend, Sheila Webster of Knoxville and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews. Weatherford Mortuary is handling the arrangements. The family will receive friends on Monday, April 2, 2012 from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm at the First Baptist Church of Oak Ridge. The funeral will follow at 2:00 pm with Dr. Tim Borchert officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Memorial Park with military honors led by TN National Guard Honor Guard. Pallbearers will be Judge Don Layton, Dr. Reece Wilson, John Wallace Lillard, Rob Hitch, Ralph Lillard and Charles Hughes. The Anderson County Bar Association will serve as honorary pallbearers. An on-line guest book can be signed at
www.weatherfordmortuary.com.

Published by Knoxville News Sentinel on Mar. 30, 2012.
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Memories and Condolences
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As a client of Harry's, he assisted me in legal matters when my mother was tragically killed in a traffic accident and then later assisted me through a Worker's Comp Case followed by two divorces and other minor legal matters. Harry was a man of honesty and integrity as well as a man of his word and I admired him greatly for it. His encouragement and humor through difficult times was uplifting. Harry, your loss is deeply felt and you are already missed. Thank you for all you have done for me over the years.

Dennis Kennedy

April 3, 2012

He was a treasured friend from law school days until the end. He had a positive and inclusive spirit. We worked together on some of his cases in Chattanooga, and I found him to be well-prepared in respect to the legal principles involved, as well fully knowledgeable of the facts. He had an uncanny ability to evaluate the pros and cons of a case without lengthy discovery. Harry was a true gentleman and an excellent lawyer. I will miss him greatly.
-Alvin Y. Bell, Chattanooga

Alvin Bell

April 2, 2012

Farewell my friend, you are in a better place than the ones you left behind. I'll see you down the road.. With sympathy to the Lillard family. He will dearly be missed by many..
Rebecca Tharp and family

becky tharp

April 1, 2012

While it has been almost twenty years since I practiced law in Tennessee, I will always remember what an honest and considerate gentleman Harry was in all the cases we had together. It was an honor and a pleasure to know him. He will be missed.

Robert Dunphy

March 30, 2012

Harry was one of a kind and will long be remembered in Anderson County. We opposed each other on cases for many years, and I knew him to always fight long and hard for all his clients. I miss him.

Judy Whitfield

March 30, 2012

So long, my dear friend, so long. I shall never forget that "what can I mess with next" grin you always had, outside the courtroom. Inside the courtroom, you were a bulldog.
You shall be missed. No doubt, you were one of a kind.
Ron Ridenour
Naples, Fla.

March 30, 2012

With sympathy to the Lillard Family. Harry was a gentleman. I am so sorry for your loss.

Tina Andrews

March 30, 2012

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