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.
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 with his childhood sweetheart, Gloria, - now his wife.
Gary was admitted to the Florida Bar and opened his hometown’s first African-American law firm with the help of Gloria, who assisted him at his new practice.
Gary’s 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.
The firm operates out of three, posh waterfront offices - two located on the St. Lucie River in historic downtown Stuart, Florida, and the third overseeing the Indian River Lagoon in Fort Pierce, Florida.
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.
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.
Gary’s amazing success has earned him national recognition as a leading trial attorney.
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 been featured in national media publications, such as The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Boston Globe, Ebony, Jet, People, Black Enterprise, Fortune, The New Yorker and The National Law Journal.
His remarkable legal career and tireless work on behalf of his clients has been well documented on “60 Minutes,” “CBS Evening News,” and ABC’s “World News Tonight with Peter Jennings.”
He is chairman of the Black Family Channel - the nation’s only African-American owned and operated 24-hour cable channel devoted to wholesome “family values” programming aimed at urban viewers.
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.
Posted By: Anitka Grayson
Tuesday, March 14th 2006 at 3:04AM
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