Marcus Appointed First Kelly Professor for Excellence in Teaching
The William & Mary Board of Visitors approved on Sept. 28 the appointment of Paul Marcus as the first Kelly Professor for Excellence in Teaching. The new professorship was made possible by a gift of $500,000 from the late Herbert V. Kelly, Sr., and will be held for a two-year term by a member of the Law School faculty. Kelly received his undergraduate and law degrees from William & Mary and was the senior partner at Jones, Blechman, Woltz & Kelly in Newport News, Va., until his death earlier this year. 
"The creation of the Kelly Professorship allows the Law School to recognize and nurture teaching excellence," said Law School Dean Taylor Reveley. "Professor Marcus is a highly respected expert on criminal law who possesses an uncommon gift for teaching. His thoughtful approach to legal education sparks student involvement. It is evident from his teaching evaluations that his work with students - both inside and outside the classroom - helps shape them as people and as lawyers. 'Mentor' is a word repeatedly used about him by both his current and former students and his faculty colleagues. We are deeply grateful to Herb Kelly for this professorship. It will help nurture the extraordinary teaching for which the Law School is known."
Marcus has taught law for thirty-three years and joined the Law School faculty in 1992 as the Hugh and Nollie Haynes Professor of Law. He has twice served as acting dean of the Law School and as dean of the University of Arizona College of Law. He is the author or co-author of numerous books including Criminal Procedure in Practice (NITA Press), The Entrapment Defense (Lexis Publishing) and The Prosecution and Defense of Criminal Conspiracy Cases (Lexis Publishing), and also is the author of numerous law review articles. Marcus has lectured around the world and has been the designated U.S. reporter or delegate on multiple occasions to international and comparative law congresses and conferences. He recently concluded his work as co-reporter for the National Committee on the Right to Counsel, a massive effort to examine defendants' rights in criminal cases across the country. Marcus has been honored with the University of Arizona's Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award, the College of William & Mary's Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, which is given in consideration of "characteristics of heart, mind, and helpfulness to others," the Williamsburg Big Brothers Program Mentor of the Year Award, and the Law School's 2007 Walter L. Williams, Jr. Teaching Award.
Kelly received his undergraduate degree from William & Mary in 1941, and graduated from the Law School two years later. He began his law career after serving in the Army Air Corps during World War II, and was a partner, and later managing partner and senior partner, at Jones, Blechman, Woltz & Kelly. Actively involved in area affairs, he received numerous awards for community service, including the Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce's Distinguished Citizen Award, the Peninsula Boy Scout's Silver Beaver Award, and Hampton Institute's Presidential Service Award. Kelly was a member of the College's Board of Visitors from 1976 to 1984 and served as College Rector for two of those years. From 1990 to 1999 he was a trustee of the Law School Foundation. In recognition of his numerous contributions to William & Mary, he received the Alumni Medallion in 1987 and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 1993. In 1995 the Law School Association presented Kelly with its Citizen-Lawyer Award, the highest honor it confers, in recognition of his outstanding citizenship and leadership.