John P. “Jack” Ackerly III

Richmond lawyer Jack Ackerly (1934-2017) was already deeply involved in Civil War organizations in Virginia when he became one of the eight co-founders of the Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites in 1987, helping launch the modern battlefield preservation movement.

To all of his endeavors, Ackerly brought his passion for history and his skills and connections as a leading Virginia attorney. He served as president of the Lee-Jackson Foundation and the Richmond Civil War Round Table and was a member of the Virginia Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission. He also served on the boards of the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation, the Museum of the Confederacy, the Historic Richmond Riverfront Foundation and the Rockbridge Historical Society, as well as the advisory board of the Richmond Battlefields Association. Ackerly was rector of the University of Virginia from 1998 to 2003. 

Jack Ackerly died at his Richmond home, with his family by his side, on May 18, 2017. He was 82 years old. His dedication to historic preservation left a lasting legacy, helping inspire future generations to protect and appreciate America's historic landscapes.