Walter H. Emroch Explained

State Delegate:Virginia
District:33rd
Term Start:January 11, 1978
Term End:January 12, 1983
Preceded:Eleanor P. Sheppard
Succeeded:Robert T. Andrews
Term Start2:January 9, 1974
Term End2:January 14, 1976
Preceded2:Carl E. Bain
Succeeded2:Franklin P. Hall
Birth Name:Walter Herman Emroch
Birth Date:3 November 1938
Birth Place:Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Education:University of Virginia
Spouse:Karen Sproles
Allegiance: United States
Branch:United States Army
Rank:Captain

Walter Herman Emroch (born November 3, 1938) is an American attorney and politician who served in the Virginia House of Delegates. A Richmond native, he is a partner at that city's personal injury law firm Emroch & Kilduff, which he founded in 1970.

A Democrat politically, he was first elected to the House in 1973 in Richmond's multi-member 33rd district. He served one term before being defeated in the 1975 primary election but ran again successfully in 1977. He remained in office until 1982, when he was defeated by Republican Joseph B. Benedetti in the newly-drawn 68th district.

Early life and education

Emroch was born to a Jewish family in Richmond, Virginia on November 3, 1938. His father, Emanuel Emroch (1908–1991), was an attorney, and his mother, the former Bertha Vitsky (1908–2000), was a housewife.[1] He attended Thomas Jefferson High School, followed by the University of Virginia and its law school, earning a B.A. and LL.B. in 1961 and 1964, respectively.[2]

Career

Law

Emroch founded the personal injury law firm Walter H. Emroch & Associates (now Emroch & Kilduff) in 1970.

Politics

Emroch was first elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1973 as one of four members from Virginia's 33rd House of Delegates district. In June 1975, he was defeated in the Democratic primary election.[3] He ran again successfully in 1977.

In 1981, the General Assembly redrew the state's legislative districts. In the case Cosner v. Dalton, filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, the created House map was declared unconstitutional. The Court allowed the 1981 elections to proceed but for a one-year term only. A new general election would thus be held in November 1982, under a new map. Emroch was drawn into the new 68th district[4] After a competitive race, he lost to Republican Joseph B. Benedetti, garnering 8,952 votes to Benedetti's 9,565.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Joseph E.. Nettles. Man of the Month: Emanuel Emroch, Richmond, Va.. The American Jewish Times-Outlook. September 1962. 11, 81. Internet Archive.
  2. Book: The Monticello. 1957. Richmond. Thomas Jefferson High School. 35.
  3. Web site: Primary Upsets For Legislature. The Bee. June 12, 1975. B1. March 3, 2022. Newspapers.com.
  4. Web site: Democrats Take Most Seats In Delegate Races. Daily Press. November 3, 1982. 6. Newspapers.com. November 16, 2021.
  5. Web site: Commonwealth of Virginia Official Election Results 1982. September 27, 1983. 37. Virginia State Board of Elections. March 2, 2022.