One of the University of Iowa's most distinguished law professors - David H. Vernon - died Monday at the age of 76.

Vernon, a UI professor of law, a former dean of the law school, an interim provost and assistant to four UI presidents, died of pneumonia Monday at University Hospitals.

"He changed the face of the law school," said William Hines, dean of the College of Law. "He replaced a dean who had been here 27 years. He had fresh ideas and a rather different approach to legal education."

Vernon was born August 9, 1925. Following graduation from Harvard College and the Harvard Law School, he began teaching at New York University Law School where he received two advanced law degrees. He also taught at the University of Houston Law School and the University of New Mexico before going to the University of Washington Law School as professor and associate dean.

In 1966, Vernon became the dean of the UI College of Law, a role he served in until 1971.

"His counsel and his actions were important in the period between 1966 and 1973, which were years of considerable student unrest," said Willard "Sandy" Boyd, UI professor of law and president emeritus. "He worked arduously for a more inclusive university, teaching summer school for minority students. He was very committed to opening up the university to all people."

Vernon preferred teaching to administration and has been a UI law professor ever since stepping down from dean position. Despite his love for the classroom, Vernon twice agreed to serve as UI's interim provost and undertook special assignments for four presidents.

"He was a person who always wanted to teach primarily, but whenever a problem or a challenge that was quite difficult, he was quite willing to come over and work on it to help solve it," Boyd said. "He was fair ... a person of great integrity. He listened a great deal but stuck by his principles."

In 1986, he became the Allan D. Vestal Professor of Law, and before that was Iowa Law School Foundation Professor.

In the late 1980s, Vernon led an investigation into the education of UI athletes following two Iowa football players' testimony in a federal racketeering case that they worried more about their sports careers than academics. The report recommended more close monitoring of athletes' academic advising and progress toward degrees.