PROFESSION: High Profile Trial Attorney
HBCU: North Carolina Central University
DURHAM, N.C. — North Carolina Central University (NCCU) alumnus Attorney Willie E. Gary donated $100,000 recently to NCCU during the halftime festivities at the 2005 "Willie E. Gary Triangle Classic" football game to fund scholarships at the university’s School of Law.
“People ask me why come back to North Carolina,” said Gary, who also had sons to graduate from NCCU and Shaw University. “North Carolina Central University and Shaw University took a chance on me, a farm boy, and gave me an opportunity when others did not think I was good enough. Now, I have lawyers from Harvard, Yale and Princeton working for me and I sign their paychecks.”
When asked about his experience at NCCU’s School of Law, Gary said, “It was awesome; it was the best years of my life.”
Founded in 1939 to provide an opportunity for a legal education for African Americans, today, with a student body of approximately 400, the School of Law is one of the more diverse student bodies in the nation.
“Willie Gary's contribution will significantly expand our ability to attract top students to our law school by offering them scholarships,” said Attorney Pierce, dean of NCCU’s School of Law. “Law schools have become quite competitive and in order to compete for the top students you must be able to extend full scholarships. In addition, there are many deserving individuals that qualify for law school, yet do not have the finances necessary to pay for school. Willie Gary has expanded our ability to assist those students.”
During the presentation, Gary was presented with a key to the city from Durham Mayor William “Bill” Bell and Mayor Pro Tempore of Raleigh James West.
Gary also donated $100,000 to Shaw University. He received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Shaw and his juris doctorate from NCCU in 1974.
“This is not the first time my father has given a lot of money to NCCU,” said Kenneth Gary, Gary’s oldest son, president & CEO of The Gary Foundation and Gary Enterprises, the family’s real estate management company. “My brother, Sekou, and Iare both alumni of NCCU.”
Sekou is a member of the Florida Bar and recently opened his own law practice, Gary Legal Group, LLC, in Miami, Florida. Gary’s two other sons, Ali, editor and chief of “Update,” the law firm’s newsletter, and Kobie, are graduates of Shaw. At halftime, the score was NCCU 31 and Shaw 10. When asked which team was he cheering for to win, Gary stated that he was pulling for both teams. However, North Carolina Central University captured a 37-31 victory over Shaw University.
Posted By: Will Moss
Thursday, October 13th 2005 at 12:14PM
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