A moment with Willie Gary
Recently we were blessed with the opportunity to interview Attorney Willie Gary. From rags to riches is not good enough to express the road that now multi-millionaire, philanthropist, Christian, father and lawyer; Willie Gary went through to reach his goals. Life was indeed hard for Mr. Gary as a child, but as he will tell you below, he determined in his mind to make things better.
If you think you have it "bad" and that your "situation" is hopeless… read on! You are sure to realize that there is an opportunity just waiting for you. You've just got to seize it.
How important is education in your profession?
I don't think that I can really describe the importance of education. It's a must. There's not doubt that you cannot make it without it, forget it, you aren't going anywhere without an education. I speak to kids everyday and tell them to stay in school, study hard and be the best that you can be, because if you want to be successful it all starts with a good foundation - get you a good education.
When you came back to Florida why did you start your own firm, rather than join for an existing law firm?
I was the first African American to start a law practice in Florida. There were other firms that wanted to hire me, and I really genuinely felt that they did, however, they wouldn't do it because they basically thought they would lose their clients because I was Black. So, I had no choice. I had to hang out my shingle and thank God I did.
How did it feel to win your first case?
It was unbelievable because I was young and energetic. The first time I was in the courtroom I won a $250,000 verdict up in middle Florida which is an area where you know, the home of the clans. I went up there in tough country representing a Black man in a wrongful death case. I had an all White jury, and we got $250,000 verdict. It felt good. It assured me that I was in the right profession, the law was my niche and I could file good lawsuits. That's what I do and I love it!
You have been called the rainmaker. Does that mean that you have the ability to make it rain?
In the sense that we have over 150 people working and they all have to be fed, somebody's got to go out and bring the business in. I guess it's just a description of saying I've been blessed to generate business.
We all know that you are a hard worker. What is a typical workday like for you?
We were in Baltimore, Maryland this morning about 6:30, now we are in Detroit, Michigan. Yesterday we were in Tallahassee, Florida. We spent the morning in Stuart, Florida and tomorrow we will be back in Florida. Saturday I will be working all day in North Carolina. So you know, the road to success is always under construction.
Well, you really get around! Tell us about you private jet, The Wings of Justice. Is it really necessary and how does it add to the bottom line of the firm?
You can ask about 150 people that depend on a check every 2 weeks whether or not we could do what we do without that ability to fly from state to state. We work out of 45 states. The days of the horse and buggy type transportation are over. If I had to sit in airports, being subjected to cancelled flights, there is no way this firm could be as efficient as it is.
Does the Wings of Justice also double as an ambulance for children?
Yes, for sick people - cancer patients. When we have cancer patients that are going in our direction and they need to get to a place for treatment we take them. As a matter of fact, the most memorable thing that I have been able to do with that plane and the most gratifying and satisfying thing was the opportunity to fly to Birmingham, Alabama to pick up Rosa Parks and take her to Detroit to get some medical treatment. That's a highlight of my life.
Now that your firm is so busy. How do you keep up with the demand? Are there times that you turn away business?
No, we have a commercial law department, a medical malpractice department [and other departments]. We have good people. We've got a bunch of good lawyers and a good staff. We have about 50 plus telephone lines, we have intake people to take the calls, we have committees to evaluate the cases and we move them. You know, people want results and if you can do that the business will come. We get a lot of cases that we don't take. Not so much because we are so busy, but because we don't feel the case warrants our involvement. We are not going to get on a case that does not have merit to it.
How can people contact your offices?
We are located in Stuart, Florida. Our number in Stuart is 561-283-8260. We have a Fort Pierce office. Our Fort Pierce office number is 561-464-2352. We work all over the U.S. and even out of the country. [www.williegary.com]
You have garnered dozens of awards, honorary doctoral degrees, and international recognition. You have been featured in media outlets such as The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Boston Globe, Ebony, Jet, People Magazine, Black Enterprise, The National Law Journal and now TopBlacks. Does all of this media exposure change you as a person?
No, you know, if you talk to my wife she'll tell you, the only thing that has changed about Willie Gary are the suits that I wear. There was a time when I did not have any at all and now I can wear suits. Maybe even the shoes that I wear because there was a time when I didn't have any shoes. I went to school without shoes on my feet. I had holes in my pants. Maybe my wardrobe has changed, but I'm focused. I know my mission. I realize better than anybody, that to whom much is given, much is required and I preach it everyday to my colleagues, don't "make it" and catch amnesia. We all have an obligation to be about more than our own agendas. We have an obligation to be more than about just making money or seeking the limelight. We've got to be a voice for the voiceless. We've got to be there for the speechless. But for a lot of good people praying for us, and those who fought and died all over the south land to make America better, Willie Gary wouldn't be where he is it today, so I'll never change.
Is it true that as a child you worked in the bean fields of North Carolina at eight? What was it like growing up?
I worked a lot earlier than at the age of eight. My kids go to daycare now, I went to fieldcare. When I was just a baby, one and two years of age, we went to the fields. The "babysitters" were in the fields. We were pulled up and down bean rows in little cardboard boxes. I was picking beans when I was old enough to walk down a bean row. Maybe it was with my Dad or with my Mom, but it was all relative. So yea, we grew up in the bean and cornfields of south Florida and when the crops would move onto the Carolinas we would go to the Carolinas. We were seasonal people. We would follow the crops. We had no designated place to stay for any length of time. We had to uproot and move with the crops. We couldn't stay in school for any length of time, wherever the White man said you had to go, that's where we were.
Do you think it's ironic now that the fruits of your labor are virtually gold? To what do you attribute your success?
My faith in God. My ability to refuse to be denied. My parents who instilled in us the value of hard work. You know, you are never going to get around hard work. There are no free rides and it ain't about luck. I tell people everyday, the harder I work the luckier I get. It's about making it happen. You've got to control your destiny.
You also have a foundation for youth that provides scholarships and funding for agencies such as the Gertrude Walden Center and other educational institutions. You and Gloria have contributed to numerous organizations. Some notable contributions are those to Bethune-Cookman College, where you contributed $100,000 and to Shaw University, where you contributed $10 million dollars. Why do you feel that it is so important to give so much back to the community?
I feel that it is important for you to give back, for me to give back and for ALL of us to give back because whether you want to be or not, you are part of the struggle and until all of us are economically free really none of us, poor black people and poor white people. You have poor White people and poor Black people who want to do better and should be doing better and can do better so you should do everything you can to help somebody. I am a firm believer that the more you give, the more you receive.
For a young person debating whether to attend college or just find a job, what advise would you give them?
Follow your dreams, but people who can get an education, get it. Go to college, take that time and do it. It is a good experience. It's beyond just "getting an education". You make friends, contacts and the experience is invaluable and you prepare yourself for the future in the process. I would say that if you've got a choice, go to college, there is no doubt about it.
Many of our readers have heard about the high profile cases you are involved in, however, what case did you work on that was personally very satisfying, but did not come with a multi-million dollar settlement, which seems to be the norm for your firm?
Well you know, I've worked a lot of cases where there was no reward, or sometimes they do not go to court. I'll never forget it, my first case that I got a lot of pride out of was representing an old lady who had a problem with a light bill and I took on that case. She thought that they charged her about $15 too much, maybe not even that much. I wrote letters and I negotiated the bill, of course this was 20 plus years ago, and to this day the smile on that lady's face when I was able to correct the bill and she stood up to the utility company and she won because they backed off and they straightened the bill out. I have quite a few stories like that where it's not a lot of money, but you get the satisfaction out of those cases. You know you've helped somebody; you've made a difference. It's not about the money; it's about the results.
Mr. Gary, we thank you for taking this time with us and look forward to speaking with you again.
Thank you and I wish you God's speed.