[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 27, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E216]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            IN HONOR OF WILLIE GARY, FLORIDA PHILANTHROPIST

                                 ______


                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 27, 1996

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I would like to join the 
American Jewish Committee in honoring Willie Gary of Stuart, FL.
  Willie Gary is an outstanding American whose story must be told. His 
parents were sharecroppers and migrant farm workers who raised 11 
children. When Willie was 13 his father Turner settled his family in 
Indiantown, FL, where he started a produce business from the back of a 
truck he had bought with the help of his son, Willie, who had earned 
the money mowing lawns.
  Willie, a high school football star who was determined to go to 
college, secured an athletic scholarship to Shaw University in Raleigh, 
NC. While at Shaw he married Gloria Royal. By the time he graduated in 
1971 Willie had one son and an successful lawn care business.
  But Willie wanted more. In 1974 he graduated from North Carolina 
Central University with a law degree and a second son. After his 
graduation from law school the Gary family returned to Florida. Willie 
was admitted to the Florida bar and their third and fourth sons were 
born.
  In 1975 Willie opened the first black law firm in Martin County. In 
1976 he opened a second office in Ft. Pierce. Today, the law firm of 
Gary, Williams, Parenti, Finney, Lewis & McManus is a large, 
sophisticated law firm with a national reputation.
  Willie Gary and his wife Gloria have given new meaning to the word 
philanthropy. God blessed Willie Gary with a magnificent legal talent 
which Willie has used to amass a measure of wealth. But what is really 
important about Willie Gary is that he has been abundantly generous 
with both his time and his money to his family, church, community, 
educational institutions, his alma mater, civic organizations, 
professional groups, friends, and individuals too numerous to mention.
  Willie Gary deserves the American Jewish Committee's Learned Hand 
Award because he is a mensch. He is a brilliant man who has dedicated 
his life to his family and ensuring that all members of his community 
have outstanding legal representation.
  Judge Edward Rodgers and I were given the privilege of being honorary 
cochairs of the event honoring Willie. We are both so very pleased to 
be associated with the American Jewish Committee in honoring this great 
American.

                          ____________________