Photo Gallery

November 15, 2006 John Montgomery Portrait Unveiling

John E. Montgomery was honored on November 15th for his many years of outstanding service and achievements as Dean and professor of the School of Law.

He has been on the faculty at the University of South Carolina School of Law since 1971. A graduate of the University of Louisville with a degree in chemical engineering, Professor Montgomery worked as an engineer with Procter & Gamble for several years before attending law school. He received a J.D. degree from the University of Louisville, graduating first in his class and an LL.M. from the University of Michigan.

After joining the faculty at the School of Law, he taught torts law, products liability, environmental law, and domestic relations before becoming associate dean for academic affairs in 1979. In 1987 he became Dean of the School of Law and remained in that position until he returned to full-time teaching and scholarship in 2003. At the time he stepped down as Dean, Professor Montgomery was the third-longest serving law school dean in the nation. His longevity resulted in great progress and stability from an academic and institutional perspective for the School of Law.

In 2002, Governor Jim Hodges awarded Dean Montgomery the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina's highest civilian award for service to the state. He is the co-author of a major casebook on Products Liability now in its fourth edition. During his tenure as Dean, the law school, among other major accomplishments, embarked on a capital campaign for the construction of a new law school building and established close ties with the National College of District Attorneys. Dean Montgomery also successfully led the law school's first capital campaign for endowments including chairs, professorships, and scholarships.

He is married to Dr. Bonnie Montgomery. They have a son, John, daughter-in-law, Kelli, and two grandchildren, Carter and Riley.

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