The University of Pittsburgh School of Law is continuing an unprecedented expansion of its endowed faculty portfolio with the creation of the Christopher C. Walthour, Jr. Endowed Chair in Law, a new endowed chair honoring the legacy of the late Christopher C. Walthour, Jr. (JD ’42). The new chair strengthens Pitt Law’s long-term strategy to recruit and support distinguished faculty whose scholarship, teaching, and public engagement elevate the Law School’s national profile.
This expansion builds on the legacy of Walthour, Jr., who was a Pitt Law alumnus and former Westmoreland County attorney. A decorated World War II veteran, he attained the rank of captain and served his country for several years as a prosecutor in war crimes trials. After his discharge, he returned to Greensburg, where he resumed the practice of law and served as President of Manor National Bank for more than 50 years.
In 2003, Walthour, Jr., left his entire estate to Pitt Law through a generous bequest. This gift has served as a foundational endowment for several current distinguished positions at Pitt Law, including the Sally Ann Semenko Endowed Chair, the Bessie McKee Walthour Endowed Chair, and the Christopher C. Walthour Sr. Professor, named in honor of his parents and fiancée.
“Christopher Walthour, Jr. was extremely generous to Pitt Law, and we want to honor his legacy by establishing an endowed chair in his name,” said Dean Jerry Dickinson. “He was selfless in his giving—naming other chairs for his loved ones—and we believe it is fitting to celebrate Mr. Walthour with a chair of his own that reflects his deep devotion to this school.”
The Christopher C. Walthour, Jr. Endowed Chair in Law is designated for faculty recruitment, positioning Pitt Law to further elevate and expand its faculty impact in scholarship, teaching, and public engagement.
The Walthour Chair is the fourth new endowed faculty position established this academic year, capping an unprecedented period of growth in Pitt Law’s endowed faculty portfolio. Together with the Roslyn M. Litman Professor of Law in Civil Liberties, the Judge Thomas Mellon Endowed Chair in Courts and the Rule of Law, and the Richard King Mellon Endowed Chair in Law and Public Policy, the Walthour Chair reflects Pitt Law’s broader strategy to recruit and support nationally impactful scholars across areas central to law, public service, and institutional leadership.