HENRY GEORGE BARR, of Bethel Park passed away on December 18th, 2021. Mr. Barr was born on June 4, 1943, son of the late Albert S. Barr, Jr. and Harriet H. Barr. Mr. Barr graduated from Monmouth (Ill) College in 1966 and from Duquesne University School of law in 1969. He served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Pittsburgh from 1969 until 1979 and was chief of the Civil Division in that office from 1973 to 1979. During his tenure as a Federal prosecutor, Mr. Barr was the recipient of the Department of Justice Outstanding Performance and Special Achievement Awards and also received a formal Commendation from the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation as a result of several prosecutions of high profile cases.
From 1979 through 1981 he served as Deputy Attorney General in charge of the State Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and empaneled and supervised the Commonwealth’s first Statewide Investigating Grand Jury. While serving in this capacity he investigated and personally prosecuted the infamous “daily number lottery fix” of 1980 in which the number “666” was chosen. For securing convictions in this case against a former television personality and a lottery official, as well as others, Mr. Barr received a Gubernatorial Commendation.
Mr. Barr also served as a Commissioner for the Pennsylvania Crime Commission in 1983 and was appointed Special Deputy General Counsel to Governor Dick Thornburgh in 1984. In 1986 Mr. Barr was named General Counsel for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and in this capacity served as a member of Governor Thornburgh’s Cabinet. Thereafter, when Governor Thornburgh was appointed Attorney General of the United States, Mr. Barr went to Washington, D.C. and served as Assistant to the Attorney General of the United States during 1988 and 1989.
Mr. Barr left government service in 1989 and later joined the law firm of Marcus and Shapira in Pittsburgh. In 2002 Mr. Barr opened his own law office in the Grant building in Pittsburgh. Though partially retired, Mr. Barr continued to practice law until his death.
Mr. Barr is survived by his loving wife, Paula C. Barr, a brother, Albert S. Barr III, four sons, David Barr and Scott Barr of Virginia and Jonathan Barr and James Barr of Bethel Park. He is survived as well by grandchildren, Rawson Barr, Taylor Barr, Julian Barr, Sebastian Barr, and Gianna Barr.
Mr. Barr was a member of the Bethel Presbyterian Church, where three of his four sons were baptized.
A viewing will be held on Wednesday, December 29th from 2-4pm and 6-8pm at Paul Henney Cremation & Funeral Tributes, 5570 Library Road Bethel Park, PA. Relatives and friends are also invited to attend a funeral service on Thursday, December 30th, 10am at Bethel Presbyterian Church 2999 Bethel Church Rd, Bethel Park, PA. Burial will follow at Bethel Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Bethel Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund, 2999 Bethel Church Road, Bethel Park, PA, or to a charity of your choice.
www.henneyfuneralhome.com
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