[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 47 (Tuesday, April 19, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E700]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        A TRIBUTE TO WILLIE GARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 19, 2005

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Willie E. Gary for his 
work as an outstanding trial attorney, philanthropist and community 
activist.
  Attorney Willie E. Gary is living the American Dream. Once a migrant 
worker, now a multi-millionaire attorney, Gary earned his reputation as 
``The Giant Killer'' by representing little-known clients against major 
corporations. Gary's amazing success has earned him national 
recognition as a leading trial attorney. Along the way he has handled 
some of the largest jury awards and settlements in U.S. history, 
winning more than 150 cases valued in excess of $1 million each.
  His remarkable legal career and tireless work on behalf of his 
clients has been well documented on ``60 Minutes'', ``CBS Evening 
News'', ``The Oprah Winfrey Show'', ABC's ``World News Tonight'' with 
Peter Jennings, and CBS's ``The Early Show'' with Bryant Gumbel. In May 
2002, he was featured in Ebony magazine as one of the ``100 Most 
Influential Black Americans''. Forbes Magazine has listed him as one of 
the ``Top 50 attorneys in the U.S.''
  Gary has also been featured in such national media publications as 
The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Boston Globe, Black 
Enterprise, The New Yorker and The National Law Journal.
  But Willie Gary's triumphant rise to the top is no overnight success 
story.
  His vast appeal stems from his desire to be the best and a passionate 
work ethic he learned through his humble beginnings. One of 11 children 
of Turner and Mary Gary, Willie Gary was born July 12, 1947 in Eastman, 
Georgia, and raised in migrant farming communities in Florida, Georgia 
and the Carolinas.
  His unwavering desire to earn a college education ultimately led him 
to Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina where the all-state high 
school football player would earn an athletic scholarship after being 
told there was no room for him on the team. Gary went on to become the 
co-captain of Shaw's football team during the 1969, 1970 and 1971 
seasons.
  Earning a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Gary went on 
to North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina where he 
earned a Juris Doctorate in 1974. Upon earning his law degree, Gary 
returned to Florida where his childhood sweetheart, Gloria soon became 
his wife.
  Gary was admitted to the Florida Bar and opened his hometown's first 
African-American law firm with Gloria's assistance. His practice has 
since grown into the thriving national partnership known as Gary, 
Williams, Parenti, Finney, Lewis, McManus, Watson & Sperando, P.L., 
consisting of 37 attorneys, a team of paralegals, a professional staff 
of 120 including six nurses two full-time investigators, an 
administrator, a certified public accountant, a public relations 
director, a general counsel, human resources director, and a full 
administrative staff.

  Gary is a member of the National Bar Associations, the American Bar 
Association, American Trial Lawyers Associations, Florida Academy of 
Trial Lawyers Association, Martin and St. Lucie County Bar Associations 
and the Million Dollar Verdict Club.
  Gary's scope of interest extends far beyond the courtroom.
  He is chairman of the Black Family Channel, the nation's first 
African-American owned and operated 24-hour cable channel that is 
devoted to wholesome ``family values'' programming for urban viewers. 
Based in Atlanta, Georgia, the network's vision is to provide 
intelligent, family-oriented programming that embraces values in 
business, entertainment, sports, ministries and government. Gary also 
hosts a weekly talk show on the Black Family Channel featuring personal 
interviews with prominent guests
  Known as a businessman, churchman, humanitarian and philanthropist, 
Gary is deeply involved in charity and civic work. He is committed to 
enhancing the lives of young people through education.
  In 1991, Gary donated $10.1 million to his alma mater, Shaw 
University. He has also donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to 
dozens of Historically Black Colleges and Universities throughout the 
U.S. In 1994, he and his wife, Gloria, formed The Gary Foundation to 
carry out this formidable task. The Gary Foundation provides 
scholarships, direction and other resources to youth, so they can 
realize their dreams of achieving a higher education.
  His national television campaign, ``Education is Power,'' encourages 
children to stay in school and be the best that they can be. In 
addition to being a lawyer, a philanthropist, a media mogul and a 
motivational speaker, Gary continues to serve on the board of trustees 
of numerous universities and foundations. He has received honorary 
doctorates from dozens of colleges and universities.
  His extensive community activities include membership in the NAACP, 
Florida Guardsmen, Inc, Urban League, Civitan International, the United 
Way of Martin County and Martin Memorial Hospital Foundation Council, 
and many others.
  Willie and his wife Gloria have four sons, Kenneth, Sekou, Ali, and 
Kobie. Mr. Speaker, Willie Gary has continued to demonstrate through 
his work as an attorney and his commitment and generosity in helping 
others that he is more than worthy of our recognition today.

                          ____________________