Thomas S. Williamson Jr., former president of the D.C. Bar, died on February 24. He was 70.
Mr. Williamson joined Covington & Burling in 1974 where he would become a partner and later senior counsel. From 1978 to 1981, he served as deputy inspector general at the U.S. Department of Energy and as solicitor of the U.S. Department of Labor from 1993 to 1996.
As someone who grew up during the civil rights movement, Mr. Williamson exemplified a deep commitment to the promotion of civil rights and pro bono service throughout his career. He was honored with the prestigious Wiley A. Branton Award by the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs for his commitment to equal rights.
In 2012, Mr. Williamson was elected the 41st president of the D.C. Bar. During his time as president, he made accessing justice for the most vulnerable populations of the District of Columbia his number one priority. Before his election as president, Mr. Williamson was actively involved with the D.C. Bar. He served as a member of its Board of Governors from 1989 to 1992, and of its Pro Bono Committee from 1997 to 2003. Mr. Williamson also served on the board of the D.C. Bar Foundation.
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