DATE: Wednesday, May 21, 1997               TAG: 9705210501

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B4   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: STAFF REPORT 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   38 lines

WELL-KNOWN ATTORNEY AND CIVIC PROMOTER DIES AT 96

Donald Woods Shriver Sr., a longtime attorney and civic promoter whose vision for Norfolk helped shape the city, died Tuesday in a local hospital. He was 96.

Shriver was a spiritual man well known for his enthusiastic speeches. As the Norfolk tax assessor from 1947-1951, he developed the city's first organized tax system, which is still in use today. He also spent 15 years as executive manager of the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce.

Shriver's diversified career included serving as police attorney, collector of delinquent taxes and as the first assistant city attorney.

A native of Baltimore and the widower of Gladys Roberts Shriver, Shriver moved to Norfolk at age 11 and graduated from Maury High School. He graduated from the University of Virginia Law School in 1924.

After practicing law for several years, he was asked to serve as Norfolk's first police attorney. He served as collector of delinquent personal property and real estate taxes beginning in 1934 and later became assistant city attorney and then real estate assessor.

Following these positions with local government, he served as manager of the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce from 1951 to 1967. He then took a position in the law firm of Parsons, Steffen and Moore, and worked for 12 more years before retiring.

Shriver was a member of Park Place United Methodist Church and was a Bible school teacher for more than 60 years. He was past district governor of the Lions Clubs District No. 5, a past president of the Norfolk Host Lions Club and a member of the Ruth Masonic Lodge A.F. & A.M. No. 89.

Survivors include a daughter, Jane S. Coe of Boxford, Mass.; son, Dr. Donald W. Shriver Jr. of New York City, who is president emeritus of Union Theological Seminary of New York; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY

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