James Dreher attended Lexington High School, graduated from The Citadel in 1931, and received an LL.B. degree from the University of South Carolina Law School in 1934. He practiced law for 32 years in the firm that eventually became Robinson, Robinson and Dreher.
He was a Professor of Law at the University of South Carolina and taught full-time from 1966 until his death. He conducted Practice Court and was the author of “A Guide to Evidence Law in South Carolina”.
He was President of the Town Theater, an actor, and a playwright. In his portrayal of Elwood P. Dowd in “Harvey”, he made the character his own. He also served as Chairman of the Richland County Board of Assessment and of the Public Library.
He was married to Jennie Clarkson and they had two daughters. He was an active Episcopalian and served as a Captain in the United States Army, JAGD during World War II.
With his fine analytical mind, he became an authority on constitutional government. He assisted in the preparation of United States Supreme Court briefs on State regulation of off-shore fishing, the Fifth Amendment, just compensation and Federal loans to states for competition.
He fully discharged the lawyer’s duty to the law and justice. His years of painstaking work contributed to the new Judicial Article adopted just after his death.