Friday, August 25, 2023
Henry P. Van Hoy II (Hank) was presented with the John B. McMillan Distinguished Service Award on August 25, 2023, at the Triple J Manor in Mocksville, North Carolina. Matthew W. Smith, vice-president of the State Bar, presented the award. John S. Willardson and Melvin F. Wright also participated in the presentation.
Mr. Van Hoy graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1971 with a degree in political science. Upon graduating, he continued his education in Chapel Hill, earning his juris doctor from UNC School of Law in 1974.
He began the practice of law with George Martin, and he continues to practice law at Martin, Van Hoy & Raisbeck, LLP in Mocksville. During his career, he served as the Mocksville town attorney for over three decades. In addition to practicing law, Mr. Van Hoy served on the NCBA’s Board of Governors from 1997 to 2000. He also served as president of the NCBA from 2001 to 2002, and gave nearly 40 years of service to the Board of Law Examiners Bar Candidate Committee.
Mr. Van Hoy is a revered member and former chair of the NCBA Judicial Independence and Integrity Committee, which strives to increase awareness of the importance of an independent judiciary and the critical role of the judicial branch. Mr. Van Hoy devoted an astounding amount of time and energy to the committee, particularly in the areas of education and outreach. As chair of the education subcommittee, he led the efforts of that body to develop balanced and informative educational materials for distribution to members of the bar and the general public. He prepared and provided manuscripts to other committee members for speaking engagements, while making numerous appearances himself.
As a reflection of his commitment to the legal profession, Mr. Van Hoy was selected to the North Carolina General Practice Hall of Fame in 2009. In 2013 he was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, and in 2019 he received the NCBA Citizen Lawyer Award.
In addition to his contributions to the legal community, Mr. Van Hoy is active in the Davie County community. For 38 years he served on the Davie County Board of Elections and was the longest continuously serving Elections Board member in the state of North Carolina. He was a longtime member of the Mocksville Rotary Club and served it as president. Mr. Van Hoy also served as a founding Board of Directors member of the Davie Family YMCA, is a past chair of the Uwharrie Chapter of the Boy Scouts of America, past board member of the Davie Community Foundation, and past chair of the Davie High School Advisory Board.
Mr. Van Hoy’s record of service to clients, colleagues, his community, and his state make him a most deserving recipient of the John B. McMillan Distinguished Service Award.
Filed Under: General News
