Major B. Harding's law career had a rather inauspicious beginning - he chose law as a "diversion" - but his 34-year career proved to be more than a mere detour.

After reaching the pinnacle of the state judicial system, that of Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice, Harding, '57, announced his retirement effective this August.

Harding, a self-proclaimed "double deacon," spent his first three years of undergraduate work at the old campus then completed his time in Winston-Salem. He graduated from the law school in 1959.

His law career included serving as a circuit and chief judge in Jacksonville, Fla., followed by his appointment to the Florida Supreme Court in 1991 - he also presided over the contentious 2000 election ballot decisions, though not as chief justice. His tenure was marked by initiatives to improve diversity, further improve access for persons with disabilities and those who go to court without lawyers and increase public confidence in the justice system.

Harding cites his admission to the Florida Supreme Court as the high point in his career, but points out his overall satisfaction with the law profession.

"Being appointed to the Supreme Court is a highlight that very few people have the opportunity to achieve," he said. "Throughout my career as a lawyer and as a judge I've had the opportunity to resolve disputes and that's what lawyers and judges do. Each case that we hear as judges and participate in as lawyers involve people and that case is the most important thing going on in the life of these folks. It is important to be of service to your fellow traveler on Earth," he said.

The contested Florida ballot case was an intriguing foray into what Harding calls the "glare of worldwide interest." He said, "It was very difficult for people to realize that the decisions were not politically motivated, but that we were deciding issues of law. We did the best we could under very interesting circumstances."

Harding also participated in two ceremonial court proceedings. In 1999, he presided over a session honoring Florida civil rights advocate Virgil Hawkins, who in the 1950s was denied admission to the University of Florida law school due to opinions issued by the state supreme court. "We memorialized his efforts to break down the racial barriers in the law profession and public education," he said.

In 2000 Harding officiated at the final event in a series to acknowledge the contributions of Florida's first 150 women lawyers. "It was a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge the advancement in numbers and the quality of the profession by their admission."

Harding said both of these ceremonial proceedings were designed to publicly recognize old prejudices that were unjust.

James Sizemore, a university professor emeritus of law, remembers Harding as a dedicated and determined student.

"My memory is that he was a good student and always attended class, which is more than I can say for some," Sizemore said. "He did very well for himself (as a lawyer) and I expected him to do well."

His devotion to education continued after college. Harding is best known for establishing the Justice Teaching Institute, a program to educate teachers about the judicial system, which is widely imitated across the United States.

John Scarlett, dean and professor emeritus at the school of law, also knew Harding as a student. "He was one of the hardest working students, but he also had the kind of personality that made him friends with everybody," Scarlett said.

Harding's connection to the university extends beyond just his academic life.

He met his wife, Jane Lewis Harding, the day before classes started her freshman year and his sophomore year. Ed Wilson, senior vice president, knew Harding's wife through the English department. She was one of his students and Wilson grew to know the two people who were "a particularly attractive couple."

"He was a very intelligent student and very serious in his nature and demeanor," Wilson said. "He was somebody who was fairly formal and rather dignified even at the age of 21. I knew Jane very well. She was also a very gifted student."

Harding will leave the court at the end of the summer content with the decisions he's made.