The Honorable Richard H. Harper

Administrative Law Judge in Charge

Office of Hearings and Appeals

Judge Harper, age 91, passed away Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at Levine and Dickson Hospice House at Southminster.

He was born in Circleville, West Virginia on June 12, 1921 to the late John A. Harper and Donna M. (Heltzel) Harper.

He completed Circleville Elementary School (2 rooms), and graduated from Circleville High School in the Class of 1939. While in high school he was president of his senior class, active in dramatics, journalism, extemporaneous speaking and a member of both the baseball and basketball teams.

Undergraduate work was done at Berea College in Kentucky and at Glenville State University. While at Berea he worked as Technical Director of Little Theater. At Glenville he wrote editorials and a weekly column for school newspaper, worked in the library and was active in dramatics. He was listed in Who’s Who in American University and Colleges. He enlisted in the U. S. Naval Construction Battalion (Sea Bees), serving from 1942 until 1945 in the Pacific Theater.

Following military service, he enrolled in the George Washington University of Law in Washington, D. C. In 1949 he received his L.L.B. degree and in 1950 received his L.L.M. In law school, he worked in the law library and was an officer in the Delta Theta Phi law fraternity.

Judge Harper was admitted to the Bar of the District of Columbia in 1950 and engaged in the private practice of law in the District of Columbia until 1956. During this time he held offices in and became Commander of his American Legion Post.

From 1956 until 1974 he served as an attorney with the Federal Trade Commission in the Kansas City, Missouri office. He was actively involved in enforcement of law against false advertising and deceptive trade practices. He was later in charge of enforcement of the Truth and Lending Law and Fair Credit Reporting Act over the nine mid-western states covered by the Kansas City office. While in Kansas City he was active in the Federal Bar Association, his law fraternity and his Church.

In 1974 he accepted an appointment as Administrative Law Judge with the Office of Hearings and Appeals, Social Security Administration and was assigned to the Charlotte, North Carolina Field Office. Since 1978 he has been Chief Judge in Charge of the Charlotte Office of Hearings and Appeals.

He is preceded in death by his loving and devoted wife of 55years, Betty L. Hastings Harper; brother, William “Bill” Harper; and sister, Anna Lyn Mickelson.

He is survived by his son; Richard H. Harper II and niece, Lyn Mozley.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at McEwen Funeral Service, 5716 Monroe Road, Charlotte, NC 28212.

A funeral service will be held 11:00 AM Thursday, May 23, 2013 at Sharon Presbyterian Church, 5201 Sharon Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28212. Interment will follow in Sharon Memorial Park, Charlotte, North Carolina.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123 -1718 (www.cancer.org), American Heart Association, PO Box 5216, Glen Allen VA 23058 -5216 (www.donate. Americanheart.org), or Hospice and Palliative Care of Charlotte Region, 1420 E. 7th Street, Charlotte, NC 28204.

Condolences at www.McEwenfs.com.