Ex-Richmond city attorney, 85, dies

Conard B. Mattox Jr. was born in Gretna in rural Pittsylvania County. After five years as a U.S. Army Air Forces pilot in World War II, he earned bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Richmond, and his law degree there in 1951. He stayed on to teach economics in UR's Evening College, was law librarian at T.C. Williams School of Law, and also practiced law.

Two years into his studies at UR, he married Mary Anne Hudgins of Danville. Hudgins was the roommate of his sister at Madison College. He gave both women a ride home during Christmas vacation and had promised to call Hudgins during the break -- if he had time.

"I wondered just what in Gretna could keep anybody so busy," she said in a 1968 interview with The Richmond News Leader.

Mr. Mattox died Saturday. He was 85.

In 1952, Mr. Mattox went to Warwick County to help in its incorporation into a city and was hired as its city attorney. After Warwick merged with the city of Newport News, Richmond hired him as an assistant city attorney. The City Council named him the new city attorney in 1967.

"When we came back here . . . it was to a different Richmond -- a city we hadn't known during the busy, student days," Mrs. Mattox said in the 1968 interview.

The 1970 annexation by the city of almost 23 square miles of Chesterfield County and 44,000 of its residents, the voting residency requirement questions caused by it, use of city funds to subsidize private businesses downtown and a racially divided City Council were among the challenges Mr. Mattox would face in his 14-year career as city attorney.

He suffered hip problems after a fall on the steps of Old City Hall in 1978, and retired in January 1981.

Mr. Mattox remained active in UR alumni activities and received an alumni Distinguished Service Award in 1994. He was a past president of the Richmond Bar Association and the National Institute of Municipal Law Officers.

A funeral will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Reveille United Methodist Church, 4200 Cary Street Road. Burial will be in Hollywood Cemetery.

Mrs. Mattox died in 2003.

Survivors include a son, William H. Mattox of Richmond, and close friend and companion Nancy DeAngelis.