Harry V. Lamon, Jr.

Harry V. Lamon, Jr., who passed away in 2024 at age 91, served in key roles in the development of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) and founded organizations that helped lawyers understand the new law, Harry was inducted into the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel (the “College”) in 2000 as a Charter Emeritus Fellow.

Harry was awarded the Baker Scholarship to Davidson College where he received a B.S., cum laude, in history in 1954. At Davidson, Harry was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Following graduation, Harry served as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. In 1956, Harry enrolled in Emory University School of Law, earning a J.D. in 1958, with Distinction.

Harry began his law career in Atlanta in 1958 with Crenshaw, Hansell, Ware & Brandon, which became Hansell & Post and later merged into Jones Day. In 1973, Harry co-founded the firm Henkel & Lamon, P.C. Harry practiced tax law for over 40 years and loved every minute. Harry wrapped up his law practice with Troutman Sanders LLP and eagerly entered the business world, working in employee benefit consulting at Lamon & Sherman Consulting, LLC from 2000 to 2010.

Harry was deeply involved in the then-new ERISA. In 1975, Harry was appointed by President Gerald Ford to represent the public on newly-established Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Benefit Plans, where he served until 1980. He was then appointed in 1980 as a Consultant to the Executive Office of the President (Office of Management and Budget) regarding retirement plans.

A valued contributor to the scholarship in employee benefits law, Harry was the Founder, Trustee, and President of the Southern Federal Tax Institute and the Southern Employee Benefits Conference (later known as the Southeast Benefits Education Network). In addition to recognition in the College, Harry was a Fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel, the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, and the International Academy of Estate and Trust Law and served as President of the American Bar Retirement Association.

During his long career, he wrote articles and books and lectured around the country on employee benefits and tax law. He was one of the early pioneers in the field of professional corporations and was co-author of The Complete Professional Corporation Handbook (Prentice-Hall, 1982), summarizing his years of practice in the field.

Harry valued education immensely and encouraged many law students in the fields of corporations, employee benefits, and federal tax law during his 20 years as an Adjunct Professor at Emory University School of Law. He was challenged, inspired, and very proud of his students, some of whom became United States Congressmen, Senators, and Judges. He was honored when named a Distinguished Alumnus in 2007 from Emory University School of Law.

One of Harry's greatest honors was serving as the Chairman of the Salvation Army's National Advisory Board from 1991-1993. Harry valued the Salvation Army's services for many people who needed a helping hand. Harry also served as a Trustee of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University for over four decades. He and his wife donated funds to create the Harry and Ada Lamon Distinguished Speaker Series at the Daytona Beach, FL campus. He was known to immerse himself in every project he took on.

Harry always aimed to expand and explore tax law and made many lasting friendships doing so. College Fellow Bernard Kearse recalled that Harry was a legend in his own time here in Atlanta. He was beloved by so many and added greatly to the best aspects of the legal profession and system. College Fellow Mark Dray knew Harry well, including spending years on the Southern Federal Tax Institute together and noted that Harry was irrepressible—a life-long Don Quixote—always tilting at windmills! A creative and skilled advocate, Harry was known for enjoying learning new and different perspectives and being ready to adjust and “pivot” in a new direction when making an argument. Mark and many others remembered Harry as a good friend, a real character, and one of the true giants in the development of the law and practice in the benefits area.

Photo Source: The Decade Book, American College of Employee Benefits Counsel 2000-2010