The Hon. Warren H. Deering '49

Determination is a driving force in the life of the Honorable Warren Deering. Judge Deering was born in Moneta, Virginia. His family moved from Moneta to southeast Roanoke when he was a child. Here he attended local schools and graduated from Jefferson High School in 1941. But attending college was another matter. His parents were not wealthy, and no one in his family had ever attended college. It was the encouragement of a fiend that sparked Warren Deering's desire to further his education and to seek a career as a lawyer in order to help others.

Immediately after graduating from high school, Judge Dering joined the Air Force and served four years, which included combat in the north Pacific. Following his discharge from the Air Force, Judge Deering returned to the Roanoke area and enrolled in Roanoke College in 1946 as a pre-law major. He was able to attend Roanoke on the G.I. Bill, live at home, and commute to college by bus. This determination for an education continued as he went on to complete his undergraduate study at Northwestern University and then receive an L.L.B. degree in 1950.

After his graduation from Northwestern University, Judge Deering moved to Los Angeles and attended graduate school at the University of Southern California where he was awarded an L.L.M degree in 1952. He practiced law in Beverly Hills until 1957. At that time, he was appointed to the Office of Attorney General of California in Los Angeles and remained there until 1972, rising to the rank of Chief Assistant Attorney General. In 1972 he was appointed to the Boards of Trustees of Western State College of Law and the California College of Optometry and as a faculty member of California Judges College. In addition, he has been president of the Northwestern University Club of Southern California and a member of the Ethics Committee of the California Judges Association. He also published two books on legal procedure published by the University of California, Berkely.

Now residing in La Jolla, California, Judge Deering lives across the street from La Jolla Beach. He retains his ties to Virginia, with two sisters residing in Roanoke and Bassett. He has passed the "spark" that he received from his friend to his nieces and nephews and has encouraged and supported each of them in their pursuit of higher education. Roanoke College is honored to have played a pivotal role in the life of this distinguished man. He received the Roanoke College Medal in 1998 for all that he has accomplished in his life.

Warren H. Deering received the Roanoke College Medal in 1998.