GEORGE D. HAIMBAUGH, JR.
(1916-2005)
Meet George
A marine, international study, University of South Carolina Law School professor born in Indiana, George D. Haimbaugh, Jr. lived an immensely fulfilling life. As a young man, he graduated first in his high school class, obtained his A.B. from DePauw University as a Rector Scholar, and attended Georgetown University for graduate study. His time at Georgetown was interrupted by WWII, in which he served as a marine from 1941 until after the wars end in 1946, eventually earning the rank of major. Haimbaugh, Jr. was an infantry officer stationed with the island garrison during the battle of Midway. He then went onto earn his J.D. at Northwestern University, where he won the Charles Cheney Hyde prize for writing on international law. Haimbaugh, Jr. then received his J.S.D. from Yale before eventually finding his way to the University of South Carolina School of Law, where he taught from 1963 to 1987. From 1978 until his retirement, he held the David W. Robinson Chair. Upon retirement, he received the
​
Image courtesy of University of South Carolina Law Library https://www.sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/law/internal/general_information/artwork/george_d_haimbaugh_jr.php
Order of the Palmetto, the state’s highest honor for a civilian. Until 1997, Haimbaugh, Jr. continued to serve his community as Professor Emeritus.
George D. Haimbaugh Jr.'s South Carolina
Haimbaugh, Jr. was in South Carolina from the early sixties and up until his death. What did South Carolina look like during these decades? One cultural highlight of his time in South Carolina took place near the beginning of his life in the state, specifically the desegregation of the University of South Carolina. In September 1963, three African American students started their first classes on what would become a memorable day for all of South Carolina history. This was the first time since reconstruction that African Americans attended the University.
Image courtesy of University of South Carolina https://www.sc.edu/desegregation/
Senator Lindsey Graham
Since Haimbaugh, Jr. taught at the University of South Carolina School of Law for many years, there are many students who graduated during his time and practice law today. One remarkable individual is current South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, who graduated from the law school in 1981. Like Haimbaugh, Jr., Graham is a veteran. Unlike Haimbaugh, Jr., he decided to pursue a career in politics and was a member of the House of Representatives before being elected to the Senate. Graham is a first-generation college graduate and continues to represent the state of South Carolina in his fourth consecutive Senate term.
Image courtesy of Wikimedia. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:U.S._Senator_Lindsey_Graham,_Official_Photo,_113th_Congress.jpg
State v. Shaw
​
​
During his time in South Carolina, Haimbaugh, Jr. certainly would have paid attention to several landmark cases. One of these would be State v. Shaw, a case that made its way to the South Carolina Supreme Court. The issue contended here was whether the death penalty was being used in accordance with the state constitution. One afternoon in 1977, three men killed a teenage boy and girl, raping the girl before her murder. Two of the men were triggermen, and the death penalty was sought for them; however, the third man was not a triggerman. Therefore, the solicitor decided to strike a plea deal with him for his testimony since the only witnesses to their crimes died. However, the other two defendants argued that because one of them was not charged with the
Trigger Warning: Rape and Murder Mention
Image courtesy of Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Carolina_Supreme_Court
death penalty, they should not have been either. The court disagreed with this argument, and the two triggermen were sentenced and executed. This case marked the first time capital punishment had been used in South Carolina since its reinstitution in 1976.
In the Stacks
George D. Haimbaugh. “THE TEACHING OF CONSTITUTIONAL LAW IN AMERICAN LAW SCHOOLS.” Journal of legal education 31, no. 1/2 (1981): 38–62.
​
Haimbaugh, George D. “Impact of the Reagan Administration on the Law of the Sea.” Washington and Lee law review 46, no. 1 (1989): 151–.
References
Charles H. Randall Jr., "Remarks upon the Retirement of Professor George Haimbaugh," South Carolina Law Review 38 (1986-1987): [xix]-[xxii]
​
Commemorating South Carolina's Civil Rights History. Accessed April 15, 2021. https://discoversouthcarolina.com/articles/commemorating-south-carolinas-civil-rights-history.
​
South Carolina Bar. “Important SC Supreme Court Cases.” South Carolina Bar. Accessed April 15, 2021. https://www.scbar.org/public/students-educators/supreme-court-institute/important-sc-supreme-court-cases/.
​
“Tools & Resources.” George D. Haimbaugh, Jr. - My Law School | University of South Carolina. Accessed April 15, 2021. https://www.sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/law/internal/general_information/artwork/george_d_haimbaugh_jr.php.
​
“United States Senator Lindsey Graham.” Biography - United States Senator Lindsey Graham. Accessed April 15, 2021. https://www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/biography.