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2006 News Articles › Judge Richard Erwin, Former NCBA VP, Dies
Judge Richard Erwin, Former NCBA VP, Dies
Article Date: Thursday, November 09, 2006
Written By: Russell Rawlings
Judge Richard C. Erwin, who served as a vice president of the North Carolina Bar Association in 1983-84, died Tuesday, Nov. 7, in Winston-Salem. He was 83.
Judge Erwin made history in November 1978 when he became the first African American in North Carolina to win a statewide election when he captured a seat on the N.C. Court of Appeals. Two years later, upon nomination by President Carter and confirmation by the U.S. Senate, he became North Carolina’s first black federal judge.
He served on the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of N.C. from 1980-92, at which time he assumed senior status, and was named chief judge in 1988.
A native of Marion, Erwin earned his bachelor’s degree from Johnson C. Smith University in 1947 following service in the U.S. Army. He received his law degree from Howard University School of Law in 1951.
Erwin also held honorary doctorates at Pfeiffer College (now University) and Johnson C. Smith, where he created the Richard C. Erwin Endowed Scholarship Fund.
Erwin practiced law in Winston-Salem from 1951 until January 1978 when he was first appointed to the state Court of Appeals. He also served two terms in the N.C. Senate, having been elected in 1974 and 1976.
Erwin served on the Forsyth County Board of Education from 1961-68 and on the State Board of Education from 1971-77. He was a member of the Board of Visitors of the Wake Forest University School of Law, chaired the Board of Trustees at Bennett College and St. Paul United Methodist Church, and served as president of the Forsyth County Bar Association.
In addition to the NCBA, Erwin was active in the National Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the N.C. Association of Black Lawyers, the Bar of the U.S. Supreme Court and the Federal Judges Association.
Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Bunny.
Additional information is accessible via the In Memoriam section of the NCBA Web site; click here to access.
Sources: The Winston-Salem Journal and Russell Funeral Service