THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 25, 1994 TAG: 9412230259
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Close Up
SOURCE: Jody R. Snider
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
FOR SUFFOLK'S NEWEST assistant commonwealth's attorney, Charles ``Fox'' Urquhart, a day at work means hopping around from court to court.
On the payroll less than two months, Urquhart said his caseload is still building.
``I have no idea what my caseload will actually be. I'm not at full stride yet. I'm just in court every day,'' he said.
After nine years in the Southampton County commonwealth's attorney office, Urquhart joined the Suffolk staff of seven assistant commonwealth's attorneys on Nov. 1.
``It's a good chance to work in an area I enjoy - prosecuting,'' he said.
Urquhart, 52, said he enjoys his work because he feels he can make the world around him a little better by prosecuting those who need to be taken out of society because they committed a crime.
``It's well organized here,'' he said. ``It's the same judges, so there's no new rules to learn. But the cases are brought to trial easier because there's more people doing the work,'' he said.
In the past, because of his busy schedule, Urquhart said he hasn't had much time for outside activities.
``I've tried golf a few times, but I never really learned,'' he said.
Urquhart said he hopes his new position will give him some time for new activities.
Maybe, he said, he'll even learn to play golf.
Name: Charles Fox Urquhart
What brought you to Suffolk? Employment as an assistant commonwealth's attorney
Hometown: Courtland
Birthdate: Aug. 9, 1942
Occupation: Assistant commonwealth's attorney for Suffolk.
Marital status: Married to Gayle for a little more than 20 years.
Children: Jill, 18, a freshman at Mary Baldwin College, and James, 14, a freshman in high school.
Favorite movie: ``Casablanca''
Favorite magazine: Naval History Magazine of the Naval Institute.
A book you wish everyone would read: ``The Caine Mutiny,'' a study of character which has few parallels.
Favorite night out on the town: Any night and any place where my wife and I can sit back and enjoy a well-prepared and well-served meal that is out of the ordinary.
Favorite bar or restaurant: No favorite. I like my wife's cooking.
Favorite food and drink: Virtually anything Gayle cooks, especially her forays into Italian cooking. For a favorite drink, nothing beats a genuine German beer (I never had a bad one!) except possibly a wee drap of a good single malt Scotch.
Few people know . . . that I enjoy organic gardening and raising the herbs, garlic and other ingredients that Gayle uses in her Italian cooking.
What's the best thing about yourself? I'm a little bit like Will Rogers, in that I can remember meeting only a very few people that I didn't like, and I seem to get along with just about everybody.
Worst habit: Trying to do everything myself and not delegating.
First thing in the morning: Walk the dog and feed the cat.
Pets: One very smart dog and one not-so-smart cat.
Hobbies: I am interested in a world of hobby-type pursuits, but I am sad to say that I have little time for the gardening and reading that I enjoy the most.
Ideal vacation: An unstructured month wandering around Italy.
Pet peeve: Narrow-minded people.
First job: General laborer on a road construction crew.
Worst job: I didn't much care for building roads.
Of what achievements are you most proud? I am extremely proud of my two children, but I cannot take more than partial credit for them. For myself, I am quite proud to have served my country for 23 years in the Naval Reserve, retiring as a commander - another one of those things that few people know about me.
What would you like on your epitaph? ``Honor and integrity meant far more to him than material things.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
by CNB