Krantz earned a bachelor of arts in public service at Lynchburg College in 1986 and went on to earn the juris doctor from the University of Richmond in 1990.
The Thornton award recognizes alumni who have made significant contributions to their fields of expertise. Candidates for the award must have received their degrees at least 20 years ago and are selected by a committee of members from the Lynchburg College chapter of The National Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. In addition to being named a Thornton Scholar, Krantz was initiated into the College’s Phi Kappa Phi chapter, along with 16 junior and senior students.
A member of the Virginia State Bar (Criminal and Health Care Law Sections) and the Bedford County and Lynchburg City Bar Associations, Krantz served as president of the Bedford County Bar Association, 1999-2001. He has been admitted to bars of the United States District Court (Western District of Virginia) and The United States Court of Appeals (Fourth Circuit).
After earning his law degree, Krantz was engaged in the general practice of law until his appointment as chief assistant commonwealth’s attorney for Bedford County in 1992. In 1995, he became commonwealth’s attorney for Bedford County.
During his tenure as commonwealth’s attorney, Krantz and Bedford County have attracted national attention for their efforts to identify, prosecute, and convict perpetrators of child pornography. He serves as the team leader for the Bedford Violent Crimes Response Team and as a member of Operation Blue Ridge Thunder, Crimes Against Children Task Force. In 1997, he was the recipient of the Governor’s Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect Award, in recognition of his efforts to protect children.
Richard H. Thornton, who graduated from Lynchburg College in 1907, enjoyed a distinguished career in publishing and writing which included serving as the president of Henry Holt and Company Publishers, editing Recognition of Robert Frost, and writing a nationally circulated column on higher education in the United States. In 1974, Lynchburg College established the Richard H. Thornton Award for Excellence in his honor, recognizing Thornton as its first recipient.
For more information, contact Shannon Brennan at 434/544-8609.
4/25/06