Richard Boykin Kellam

Richard Boykin Kellam (May 30, 1909 – June 8, 1996) was a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Richard Boykin Kellam
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
In office May 30, 1981 – June 8, 1996
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
In office 1973–1979
Preceded by	Walter Edward Hoffman
Succeeded by	John Ashton MacKenzie
Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
In office August 25, 1967 – May 30, 1981
Appointed by	Lyndon B. Johnson
Preceded by	Seat established by 80 Stat. 75
Succeeded by	Robert G. Doumar
Personal details
Born	Richard Boykin Kellam (1909-05-30)May 30, 1909 Princess Anne County, Virginia
Died	June 8, 1996(1996-06-08) (aged 87) Virginia Beach, Virginia
Children	Phillip Kellam
Education	read law

Education and career

Born in Princess Anne County, Virginia, Kellam read law to enter the bar in 1934. He was in private practice in Virginia from 1934 to 1960. He was a judge of the Circuit Court for the 28th Judicial Circuit of Virginia from 1960 to 1967.[1]

Federal judicial service

On July 17, 1967, Kellam was nominated by President Lyndon B. Johnson to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia created by 80 Stat. 75. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on August 18, 1967, and received his commission on August 25, 1967. He served as Chief Judge from 1973 to 1979, and assumed senior status on May 30, 1981. Kellam served in that capacity until his death, on June 8, 1996, in Virginia Beach, Virginia.[1]

Family

Kellam was part of a well known political family in Southeast Virginia. His father, Abel Kellam, served as clerk of the Princess Anne Circuit Court for 20 years.[2] The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, is officially named the Lucius J. Kellam Jr. Bridge-Tunnel, named after an uncle. Floyd E. Kellam High School is named after a brother who was a circuit court judge. Another brother, Sidney Kellam, was the county's political leader for 40 years and engineered the merger of Virginia Beach and Princess Anne County.[3][4] His son, Phillip Kellam was Commissioner of the Revenue for Virginia Beach for 12 years and later ran unsuccessfully for Congress.

References

1. Richard Boykin Kellam at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
2. Dougherty, Kerry (November 30, 2006). "Mrs. Kellam remembered for more than famous name". The Virginian Pilot. Pilotonline.com. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
3. "Bill Tracking - 2005 session > Legislation". leg1.state.va.us.
4. "Beach revenue commissioner files to run for Congress - philkellam.com, 23 August 2006". Archived from the original on August 23, 2006. Retrieved August 23, 2006.CS1 maint: unfit url (link)

Sources

• Richard Boykin Kellam at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.

Legal offices
Preceded by Seat established by 80 Stat. 75	Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia 1967–1981	Succeeded by Robert G. Doumar
Preceded by Walter Edward Hoffman	Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia 1973–1979	Succeeded by John Ashton MacKenzie