Fred W. Bateman
Encyclopedia
Fred W. Bateman was a Newport News
Circuit Court judge and a Democratic member of the Senate of Virginia
in the 1960s.
and a graduate of Wake Forest University
and the law school at the University of North Carolina
. He joined the U.S. Navy as a commissioned officer after the Japan
ese attack on Pearl Harbor
in 1941. Bateman served as a line officer on ships in the South Pacific throughout World War II
.
in 1947 and then, in 1952, to Warwick County
(which later became Newport News). He practiced law the firm of Newman, Allaun and Downing.
Bateman was elected to the Senate from the 31st Senatorial District
in 1959, and after redistricting, from the 30th District
, serving until 1968. He was a member of the Senate Finance, Courts of Justice, and Transportation Committees.
In 1981, Bateman was elected by the legislature to be a judge of the Newport News Circuit Court, retiring at the age of 72. He continued to serve as a substitute judge for many years.
Bateman died on January 10, 1999 and the Virginia General Assembly passed Senate Joint Resolution Number 564 (1999) honoring his service and acknowledging his death.
Newport News, Virginia
Newport News is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia. It is at the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River extending southeast from Skiffe's Creek along many miles of waterfront to the river's mouth at Newport News...
Circuit Court judge and a Democratic member of the Senate of Virginia
Senate of Virginia
The Senate of Virginia is the upper house of the Virginia General Assembly. The Senate is composed of 40 Senators representing an equal number of single-member constituent districts. The Senate is presided over by the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia...
in the 1960s.
Early life and education
Bateman was a native of Roper, North CarolinaRoper, North Carolina
Roper is a town in Washington County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 613 at the 2000 census. It was known as Lee's Mill until 1890, when the John L...
and a graduate of Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
and the law school at the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina
Chartered in 1789, the University of North Carolina was one of the first public universities in the United States and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century...
. He joined the U.S. Navy as a commissioned officer after the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese attack on Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
in 1941. Bateman served as a line officer on ships in the South Pacific throughout World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Legal and political career
At the conclusion of the war, Bateman moved to Richmond, VirginiaRichmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
in 1947 and then, in 1952, to Warwick County
Warwick County, Virginia
Warwick County was a county in Southeast Virginia that was created from Warwick River Shire, one of eight created in the Virginia Colony in 1634. It became the City of Warwick on July 16, 1952...
(which later became Newport News). He practiced law the firm of Newman, Allaun and Downing.
Bateman was elected to the Senate from the 31st Senatorial District
Virginia Senate, District 31
District 31 of the Virginia Senate is a senatorial district that encompasses portions of the Arlington County, Fairfax County and Loudoun County in the U.S. state of Virginia...
in 1959, and after redistricting, from the 30th District
Virginia Senate, District 30
District 30 of the Virginia Senate is a senatorial district that encompasses portions of the City of Alexandria, Arlington County and Fairfax County in the U.S. state of Virginia...
, serving until 1968. He was a member of the Senate Finance, Courts of Justice, and Transportation Committees.
In 1981, Bateman was elected by the legislature to be a judge of the Newport News Circuit Court, retiring at the age of 72. He continued to serve as a substitute judge for many years.
Bateman died on January 10, 1999 and the Virginia General Assembly passed Senate Joint Resolution Number 564 (1999) honoring his service and acknowledging his death.