Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 1 May 2003 — Page 19

The Muncie Times • May 1, 2003 • Page 19

ATTORNEY URGES BLACK STUDENTS TO WORK HARDER

Attorney Willie E. Gary and some of the 150 teenagers he spoke to

ST. LOUIS, MO.Prominent attorney and cable television executive Willie E. Gary recently told a group of 150 teenagers about the importance of getting a college education, during a forum sponsored by the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis. He then turned his attention to helping the St.

Louis University School of Law raise money for scholarships during the Black Law Students Association’s first-ever ‘Casino Night.’ “They were both such worthy causes, that I couldn’t say no to either one,” Gary said. “I am very grateful that we were able to work together so that

I was able to participate in both events. It was a great day—during the first event, 1 was speaking to young people about the importance of getting a college degree and at the other we were having a great time raising scholarship money to help young people toward that end.” Gary shared the unique story of how he went from the migrant fields of the South, to the campus of Shaw University, where he slept on a couch and cleaned the locker rooms until the football coach gave him a spot on the team and the school waved its mandatory $10 application fee so Gary could earn his degree, before attending North Carolina Central University, where he earned his law degree. Known in legal

circles as The Giant Killer, Gary is best known for taking on America’s most powerful corporate giants and winning billions of dollars on behalf of his clients. In 1 995, he won a $500 million verdict against a Canadian funeral home company. In 2000, he won a $240 million verdict against Disney, when a jury found Disney stole the idea for its sports complex from Garyfs clients. In 2001, he won a $139 million verdict from Anheuser-Busch on behalf of the family of baseball great Roger Maris. Through the years, Gary has also negotiated settlements of $205 million, $185 million and $175 million for his clients. Gary is chairman and CEO of the Major

Broadcasting Cable Network (MBC), the natioms only African American owned and operated 24-hour cable television network. Gary recently unveiled plans to launch a second networkMBC News: The Urban Voice, which is a 24-hour cable news network devoted to African Americans. Gary and his wife, Gloria, are known for their philanthropic endeavors. They founded The Gary Foundation to provide scholarships and other educational resources to atrisk students who wish to attend college. The Gary’s have donated millions of dollars to help the Historically Black Colleges and Universities, including $10 million to their alma mater Shaw University in Raleigh, N.C.

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