Joseph William Geary, Jr.
The founder of our law firm, Joseph W. Geary, Jr., was a decorated World War II veteran, a community and civic leader, and a highly respected trial attorney. He was a great leader, mentor and friend and will be missed by all of us. Below is a brief biography which lists some of his accomplishments and associations. Following his biography is a poem written by Joe – which represents the way he lived – a man of action who led by example.
Joseph W. Geary, Jr. was born on February 2, 1924, in Dallas, Texas. Joe graduated from North Dallas High and attended Southern Methodist University, graduating with a BA in government and economics. At 17, he volunteered for military duty, enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Corps (now the Air Force) and was assigned to the 450th Bombardment Group 721st Bomb Squadron as a 2nd Lieutenant stationed in Manduria, Italy. Serving as a B24 navigator, Joe completed 50 missions over France, Italy, Austria, Germany, and Yugoslavia between early 1944 and June 1945. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal with three clusters, Rank – Captain. In October 2011, the French government honored Joe as a Knight of the Legion of Honor, its highest military decoration, for his WWII service.
Following his military service, Joe returned home to begin his legal studies. In a thoroughly Joe Geary way, Joe passed the Texas State Bar exam before graduating from the SMU School of Law. Joe then served as Assistant District Attorney with Henry Wade from 1947-1951. In 1948, Joe married Charlotte Walters, and they began a family. Leaving for private practice, Joe founded several law firms, including Geary Porter & Donovan, where Joe practiced law until the time of his death.
Joe was a member of the SMU Ex-Lettermen’s Club (having lettered in baseball as a pitcher and a catcher), TTLA, ATLA, Phi Alpha Delta, a former member of the Dallas Community Chest Trust Fund (now the Community Foundation of Texas), East Dallas Parent’s League, and a lifetime member of the SMU Real Estate Society School of Business. He was a Fellow of the Dallas Bar Foundation and Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation.
Joe was a past director of various entities, including: Continental Steel Corp., Guardian S&L, Trinity National Bank, American Basketball Association, SMU Mustang Club, SMU Alumni Association, Dallas Civic Opera Association, Lake Hill Preparatory School, Dallas Council of Churches, Central Business Association, City Club, Pinnacle Club.
Joe served as the past president of several bodies, including the Kidney Foundation of Texas, the Board of the Kidney Foundation of Texas, the Exchange Clubs of Texas, and the East Dallas Exchange Club. Joe, an avid golfer, served on the boards of the Vintage Country Club (Indian Wells, California), the Preston Trails Golf Club, and the Bent Tree Country Club.
From 1959-1961, Joe served on the Dallas City Council and ran an unsuccessful campaign for Dallas mayor in 1961. He was a former trustee of Lovers Lane Methodist Church, a 32nd degree Mason, one of the founders of the American Basketball Association, and a part owner of the Dallas Chaparrals Basketball team (now the San Antonio Spurs).
Joe was flown to Washington, D.C. twice by the Honor Flight DFW, including in December 2015 when he was among twelve WWII vets honored on Pearl Harbor Day by the NFL at the Washington-Dallas game.
Joe passed away on January 16, 2016.
Sermonette Action
I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day,
I’d rather one should walk with me than merely show the way.
The eye’s a better pupil and more willing than the ear;
Fine counsel is confusing, but example’s always clear;
And the best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds,
For to see the good in action is what everybody needs,
I can soon learn how to do it if you’ll let me see it done,
I can watch your hand in action but your tongue too fast may run.
And the lectures you deliver may be very wise and true;
But I’d rather get my lesson by observing what you do.
For I may understand you and the high advice you give,
But there’s no misunderstanding how you act and live.
. . . Joseph Geary
Bar Admissions
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
U.S. Federal Courts
State Bar of Texas, 1947
Education
Southern Methodist University School of Law, Dallas, Texas, 1948 (Juris Doctor)
Professional Associations and Memberships
State Bar of Texas Member
American Bar Association Member
Dallas Bar Association Member
Texas Bar Foundation Fellow, 1987-2016
Association of Trial Lawyers of America Member
Texas Trial Lawyers Association Member
Dallas Bar Foundation Fellow