Walter Tansill Oliver (May 10, 1873 – November 23, 1932) was an American politician and lawyer from Virginia. He served as mayor of Fairfax, Virginia, in 1902. He represented

Fairfax County Fairfax County, officially the County of Fairfax, is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is part of Northern Virginia and borders both the city of Alexandria and Arlington County and forms part of the suburban ring of Washington, D.C. ...

, as a member of the

Virginia House of Delegates The Virginia House of Delegates is one of the two parts of the Virginia General Assembly, the other being the Senate of Virginia. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbe ...

from 1908 to 1915 and as a member of the Virginia Senate from 1920 to 1924.

Early life and education

Oliver was born on May 10, 1873, in Kenmore in

Fairfax County, Virginia Fairfax County, officially the County of Fairfax, is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is part of Northern Virginia and borders both the city of Alexandria and Arlington County and forms part of the suburban ring of Washington, D.C. ...

, to Lucretia A. (née Tansill) and Lewis C. Oliver. He attended public schools in Kenmore and the Potomac Academy in

Alexandria, Virginia Alexandria is an independent city (United States), independent city in the northern region of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia, United States. It lies on the western bank of the Potomac River approximately south of Downto ...

. Oliver entered the

University of Virginia The University of Virginia (UVA) is a Public university#United States, public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia. Founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, the university is ranked among the top academic institutions in the United S ...

in 1889. He studied there for two years, and then taught for three years. He entered

University of Virginia School of Law The University of Virginia School of Law (Virginia Law or UVA Law) is the law school of the University of Virginia, a public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia. It was founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson as part of his "academical v ...

in 1895, graduating with a

Bachelor of Laws Bachelor of Laws ( la, Legum Baccalaureus; LL.B.) is an undergraduate law degree in the United Kingdom and most common law jurisdictions. Bachelor of Laws is also the name of the law degree awarded by universities in the People's Republic of Chi ...

in 1897. He also worked as a law librarian. He was president of the Jefferson Literary Society and was a recipient of the debaters' medal from that organization. He was admitted to the bar on June 18, 1896.

Career

Oliver practiced law in Fairfax, Virginia, and was elected mayor of Fairfax in 1902. Oliver served as a member of the

, representing Fairfax, for five sessions: from January 8 to March 27, 1908; from January 12 to March 17, 1910; from January 10 to March 15, 1912; from January 14 to March 20, 1914; and from January 13 to March 19, 1915. Oliver served as a member of the Virginia Senate, representing Fairfax, from March 1, 1920, to February 29, 1924, succeeding Edgar Lee Greever.

Personal life

Oliver married Kate W. Brunback in 1892. They had three sons and one daughter, including Lewis B. B. Oliver got into a fight with the brother of his son's wife, Lewis Ritchie. Oliver's son Lewis B. B. was going through marital issues with his wife. After reportedly striking Ritchie with his cane, Oliver was struck in the jaw and fractured his skull on the sidewalk. Oliver died the following day, on November 23, 1932. He was buried at the family plot at Kenmore in

. In January 1933, Lewis Ritchie was set free for his involvement in Oliver's death.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oliver, Walter Tansill 1873 births 1932 deaths People from Fairfax County, Virginia University of Virginia School of Law alumni Members of the Virginia House of Delegates Virginia state senators Virginia lawyers 19th-century American lawyers 20th-century American lawyers 20th-century American legislators Mayors of places in Virginia People murdered in Virginia 1932 murders in the United States 20th-century Virginia politicians