Erwin S. “Shad” Solomon

Erwin S. “Shad” Solomon, a former member of the Virginia House of Delegates and candidate for Virginia Attorney General, graduated from Emory & Henry in 1942. He made a name for himself as one of the best criminal defense attorneys in the state of Virginia. Before he was mounting defenses in court, however, he played tailback, safety, and linebacker for the legendary Coach “Pedie” Jackson. Solomon was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame in 1985.

While he was a student, Solomon also helped to establish the first women’s basketball team at the college and served as its coach.

After graduating, Solomon served as a teacher, coach, and administrator at the high school and college level. He then earned his law degree from the University of Virginia. He served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1974-82 and was the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Bath County. He authored a number of texts, his best known being College and University Law, which has been used in law school classrooms and other graduate programs.

Solomon was listed among 13 criminal defense lawyers from Virginia in the 1983 book The Best Lawyers in America, a consumer’s guide. He was a two-time candidate for Virginia Attorney General. He served on the E&H Board of Visitors and in 1984 he became one of the principal benefactors of the Emory & Henry Alumni House renovation and was a long-time supporter of the college.

Erwin Solomon passed away on June 11, 1986. The library of the campus Alumni House at Emory & Henry was dedicated in his memory.