Edwin Harris Drew (1903-1978) was born in Georgia and came to Palm Beach County in his teens. He graduated in 1923 from Stetson University. Drew was attorney for the Town of Palm Beach for 30 years; his private clients included Addison Mizner.
Throughout his career Drew was active in the Florida League of Cities and authored their motto: “Local Self-Government ñ Keystone of American Democracy.” The League established the E. Harris Drew Municipal Official Lifetime Achievement Award in his memory. Drew was also president of the Palm Beach County Bar Association (1932) and the Florida Bar Association (1943).
In 1952 Drew was appointed by Governor Fuller Warren to complete the term of Florida Supreme Court Justice Roy Chapman. Drew remained in office until 1971, serving as Chief Justice 1955-57 and 1963-65.
During these years the courts dealt with difficult matters. School desegregation faced resistance in both public and private sectors. The addition of appeals courts to the Florida court system was highly political. Drew also handled the impeachment of a Florida judge. After he retired from the bench, Drew addressed more controversy when he chaired the Governor’s Committee to Study Capital Punishment under Gov. Reubin Askew, at the time the death penalty was reinstated in Florida. Askew also appointed Drew to the State Ethics Committee, which he chaired.
The philosophy Drew impressed on others was one of integrity: “Live your life so you can look any man in the eye and tell him to go to hell.” Justice Drew served others to his last days; he died from injuries received while assisting a stranded motorist.