Million Dollar Gift Will Create Scholarships to Support Law Students, Honor William & Mary Leaders

William & Mary Law School is excited to announce the receipt of a $1 million gift to create a scholarship endowment for law students. The gift celebrates the legacy and enduring impact of Charles and Anita Poston and Taylor and Helen Reveley, two couples whose dedication to education, mentorship, and service have transformed countless lives.  

The alumni donors, who wish to remain anonymous, have challenged the Law School and the University community to build on this legacy to further expand its reach and benefit more students. 

The Postons are proud graduates of William & Mary Law School. Currently, serving as William & Mary’s Rector, Judge Charles Poston J.D. ’74 joined The McCammon Group after two decades on the Norfolk Circuit Court, including three years as chief judge. He chaired Virginia’s Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee and presided over the state’s first Mental Health Court. Earlier, he served on the Norfolk Juvenile Court. Poston also practiced law privately and held various public service roles. He also served in the United States Army Reserve, rising to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the Infantry. He taught as an adjunct at several institutions, including William & Mary Law School, and was honored by the Virginia General Assembly in 2014 for his contributions.  

Anita Owings Poston J.D. ’74 served as a member of William & Mary’s Board of Visitors from 2003 to 2011 and on the Law Foundation Board from 2015 to 2024. She is a member of the William & Mary Real Estate Foundation Board of Directors. A principal in the Norfolk office of Woods Rogers Vandeventer Black, she concentrates in business law,  estate planning and administration, and fiduciary bond defense.  She served on the Virginia Board of Bar Examiners, as president of The Virginia Bar Association, chair of the Norfolk School Board and chair of the State Board for Community Colleges.  In 2001, William & Mary Law School honored her with the Citizen Lawyer Award, given to an alumnus/a who graduated more than 10 years previously and who personifies the citizen lawyer tradition of professional achievement/service, personal integrity, and community leadership. 

Taylor and Helen Reveley have been a fixture at William & Mary for several decades and became Honorary Alumni in 2018. Taylor Reveley served as Dean of the Law School from 1998-2008, a transformative time for the Law School. Reveley then became William & Mary's 27th president, working tirelessly to enhance the university's excellence and preeminence.  During his time as dean of the Law School, the new North Wing and the Wolf Law Library were constructed, fund raising, alumni affairs and foundation growth moved forward significantly, and new emphasis was given to the concept of the citizen lawyer.  Before coming to W&M, Reveley practiced law for 28 years, including nine years as his firm's managing partner.  He wrote a book on the war powers of the President and Congress, and he served on many boards, for instance, those of Princeton University, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Helen Reveley served as William & Mary’s First Lady and was a constant presence at the Law School during Taylor Reveley’s time as Dean. She has served on many boards and currently is on those of the Muscarelle Museum, the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation and Preservation Virginia.  While raising four children, she had an extensive career in sales and marketing. In her roles at the University and at the Law School, she hosted alumni, students, faculty, staff, community members and honored guests in the President’s House and the Law School. As loyal confidante throughout her husband’s tenure, Helen Reveley’s steady hand and sound judgment played an enormously important role as Taylor Reveley led the Law School and the university with great distinction. 

As set forth in its creation documents, “this endowment has been established in honor of Rector Charles E. Poston and former Board of Visitors Member Anita O. Poston, and President Emeritus W. Taylor Reveley, III and former First Lady of William & Mary Helen B. Reveley. Countless students have benefited from their wisdom, advice, generosity, mentorship, support and example. Their impact on William & Mary Law School, the University, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and beyond is immeasurable. This endowment challenges each one of you to become a part of this gift so that together we can help sustain William & Mary Law School for generations to come.”  

“We are profoundly grateful for this generous gift, which will support outstanding students and honor the exemplary leadership of the Postons and the Reveleys,” said A. Benjamin Spencer, Dean and Trustee Professor. “This investment affirms the values of service and justice that define our law school and ensures a legacy of excellence.”