William T. Wilson Receives 2022 Chambers Award
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William T. (Bill) Wilson of Covington is the 2022 Recipient of the
Edward L. Chambers Jr. Award. The award was established in 2020,
after Ed’s sudden passing, to recognize volunteers who have devoted
significant time to the Virginia State Bar.
Wilson’s service to the Bar began in 1991 when he served on the
Committee to Study Mail Ballot Procedures, and he has remained a
steadfast volunteer for over three decades. He is a past chair of the
Conference of Local Bar Associations and a past chair of the Senior
Lawyers Conference (SLC). His tenure with the SLC was distinguished
by the development of a Senior Citizens Law Day Program which has
been a statewide program of the VSB.
He has held various positions with the VSB including as a member of
the Judicial Nominations Committee, the Executive Committee, the
Bar Council (three times on Executive Committee), the Professionalism Committee, Professionalism
Course Faculty and chair of the Computer Study Committee. He is a former member of the Judicial
Candidates Evaluation Committee (JCEC) and is currently (2022) serving on VSB Council. He was
appointed by Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons to the Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee (JEAC) and is
serving presently (2022).
Wilson has been practicing law in Covington since 1963, when he joined Senator Michael McHale
“Hale” Collins. He was senior partner in the law firm of Wilson, Updike & Nicely until December 31,
2018. In his legal career, Wilson has served as a substitute judge for the County Court of Alleghany;
president of the Alleghany-Bath-Highland Bar Association; president of the Virginia Chapter of the
American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA); and was a member of the Boyd Graves Conference. In
2016, he was awarded the "Champion of Justice trophy” by the Virginia ABOTA Chapter. Additionally,
Wilson served in the Virginia House of Delegates for 16 years (1974-89). As a delegate, he served on
many committees and commissions, including the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission
(JALARC).
In the Covington Area, Wilson has served on many civic boards and has been a member of a number of
organizations, including chair of the Dabney S. Lancaster Community College Foundation Board;
Salvation Army Board (chair); United Fund Board (chair); Alleghany County Chamber of Commerce
(president); the Council of Granbery Methodist Church; served on the Board of Directors of the Casteel
Hunt Club; was on the Jackson River Scenic Trail Committee; former member of the Valley
Conservation Council; president of the Jackson River Preservation Association, Inc.; member of Rotary
and former president President of the Alleghany Chapter of the Izaak Walton League.
Wilson graduated from Crewe High School in Crewe, Virginia, in 1956 and received a BA Degree from
Hampden-Sydney College in 1960. He obtained his law degree from the University of Virginia Law
School in 1963. He served six years in the Virginia Air National Guard (1963-1969) where he rose to the
rank of Sergeant.
Bill and his wife, Lang, were the recipients of the 2017 Dabney S. Lancaster Community College annual
Chancellor's Award for Leadership in Philanthropy. They have one daughter, Taylor Wilson Jones, who
resides in Richmond with her husband and their three children. | | | | | |
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