On March 27, 2002, Harry F. Weyher died in La Grange, North Carolina from health complications after a prolonged battle with cancer. Throughout his 80-year lifespan Weyher led a successful life as an attorney, soldier, author, philanthropist, and family man. He graduated from the University of North Carolina (Phi Beta Kappa), served in Europe during World War II, graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1949, became editor of the Harvard Law Review, joined the law firm of Cravath Swain & Moore, held the position of Special Assistant Attorney General to the New York State Crime Commission, became Adjunct Associate Professor at New York University School of Law, became a member of the Society of Cincinnati, and founded his own NY-based law firm of Olwine, Connelly, Chase, O'Donnell, and Weyher. Near the end of his professional career, he joined the law firm of Hollyer, Brady, Smith, Troxell, Barret, Rockett, Hines, & Mone. During his career, Harry wrote several articles and two law textbooks.
He is perhaps better known in certain circles for his important service as a former director and president of the Pioneer Fund, a non-profit foundation established on March 11, 1937 that was established to carry out two objectives:
First, to provide financial assistance to the parents of children likely to become socially valuable citizens who would make important contributions to their society; and second, to provide grants for research into the study of human nature, heredity, and eugenics. Only the second objective has been funded.
Harry Weyher was appointed a Pioneer Fund director in 1958 and then served as president for over 40 years. During his tenure, Pioneer financially supported some of the most important scientific research in the areas of heredity and “human race betterment” — the study of intelligence, personality and behavioral traits, eugenics, and race differences. Several Pioneer grantees have been eminent scholars and distinguished social scientists, including a recipient of the Nobel Prize, a past president of the American Psychological Association, and some of the most cited psychologists in the scientific literature. He carried out the intentions of Pioneer’s founders with steadfast conviction and resolute determination. J. Philippe Rushton and has been appointed to succeed Harry as president and Richard Lynn and Michelle Weyher have been named as directors.
(For more on the history of the Pioneer Fund see Louis Andrews's book review of The Science of Human Diversity in this issue. Contributions should be made to the Laura C. Weyher Charitable Foundation, 1108 West Vernon Ave., Kinston, N.C. 285001.)
To our readers: this issue (Spring 2002) is dated Volume 2, Number 1 rather than Volume 1, Number 3 in order to put the journal on a calendar-year publishing schedule. The summer, fall and winter issues will subsequently be Volume 2, Numbers 2, 3 and 4 and then next spring will begin Volume 3 and will follow in this sequence. Since the first issue of the first volume was published last fall, the editors decided that it would be more beneficial to keep the journal in sync with the calendar-year cycle.
Also beginning with this issue, the journal adds a new feature: a correspondence section that in the future will feature letters-to-the-editor as well as critiques, commentary and exchanges between contributors and their critics. We welcome your comments or criticisms. We can be reached at: EditorTOQ@theoccidentalquarterly.com or Editor, The Occidental Quarterly, P.O. Box 695, Mt. Airy, MD. 21771.