William B. POFF

William B. Poff passed away on Wednesday, September 5, 2012, surrounded by family and friends. A renowned attorney, Bill was born in Vickers, Va., on August 23, 1932. His father, John Poff, ran a country store and his mother, Pansy Boose Poff, was a school teacher. They taught him the value of hard work and education which stayed with him throughout his life.
He graduated from Christiansburg High School at the age of 15 and then attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He earned his law degree at Washington & Lee University where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review and Order of the Coif.
After graduation from law school, Bill was commissioned into the United States Army, and taught at the Judge Advocate General school in Charlottesville. Bill joined the Woods Rogers law firm in 1959.
Bill's accomplishments and awards in the law are extensive. Bill was not only masterful in the courtroom, but he was a gifted teacher of legal skills, strategy, and technique. He was a mentor to countless attorneys throughout Southwestern Virginia, and it was a source of pride to Bill that a number of the attorneys he mentored went on to become judges. In his over 50 years of practice with Woods Rogers he argued and tried hundreds of cases in federal and state courts in Virginia and beyond, winning cases before the Supreme Court of Virginia, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. In doing so, he earned a reputation for his keen intellect, tenacity, and the ability to simplify even the most complex issues.
Bill was, over the course of his distinguished career, President of the Virginia State Bar, President of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, a Member of the Board of Governors of the American Bar Association and a founding member of the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys. He received the Frank W. "Bo" Rogers Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award from the Roanoke Bar Association and also received a lifetime achievement award from the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys. Just this year, Bill received the Roger Groot Professionalism Award from the Ted Dalton American Inn of Court, the Inn's highest honor.
Bill was "old school" in his work ethic, determination and attention to detail - but also "new school" in his fascination with new technologies, new ideas and in his desire to learn about ever-expanding areas of law. He was a consummate lawyer, colleague and friend, and he leaves his own indelible mark on the practice of law in Virginia.
Bill married Magdalen (Mag) Barbara Andrews Poff in 1957. She was an award winning journalist with the Roanoke Times who shared Bill's work ethic and dedication to professional excellence. After Mag's death, Bill married the next love of his life, Spring Cho, an intelligent, devoted and successful businesswoman. She brightened his later years immeasurably, and her influence helped Bill reveal to the world the softer side of the hard-boiled litigator. Spring's four daughters, and their children, became a source of pride and joy for Bill.
Bill was always deeply involved in civic affairs. He was a long-time leader in Roanoke's Sister Cities program; he worked diligently in support of Republican Party politics, and served as Director of local organizations such as Mill Mountain Playhouse, the Roanoke YMCA, and the Roanoke Valley Jaycees to name only a few. Bill was also a very generous man, devoted to many causes, and fiercely loyal to his cats - Pan, Piper, and Frisky.
Bill is survived by his wife, Spring; and his stepdaughters, Virginia, Young, Sunn, Anne and her husband, Mike; in addition to his grandchildren, Carter, Ryan, Victoria and Peyton.
Bill requested that there be no funeral or memorial service to mark his death. In lieu of flowers, Bill's family asks that donations be made to the Roanoke Valley SPCA, 1340 Baldwin Avenue, NE, Roanoke, VA 24012.