Jere Beasley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jere Beasley
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| Governor of Alabama | |
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Acting
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| In office June 5, 1972 – July 7, 1972 While George Wallace was incapacitated |
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| Governor | George Wallace |
| 22nd Lieutenant Governor of Alabama | |
| In office January 18, 1971 – January 15, 1979 |
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| Governor | George Wallace |
| Preceded by | Albert Brewer |
| Succeeded by | George McMillan |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jere Locke Beasley
December 12, 1935 Tyler, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Auburn University (BS) University of Alabama (JD) |
Jere Locke Beasley, born on December 12, 1935, is an American lawyer and politician. He served as the 22nd Lieutenant Governor of Alabama from 1971 to 1979. For a short time, he was the acting governor of Alabama in 1972. This happened after Governor George Wallace was seriously injured. Beasley's law firm is well-known for winning large amounts of money for its clients in important legal cases.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jere Beasley was born in 1935 in Tyler, Texas. He grew up in Clayton, Alabama, where his father owned a small grocery store.
He went to Auburn University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree. In 1958, he married Sara Baker. Later, in 1962, he received his law degree from the University of Alabama School of Law.
Political Career in Alabama
Beasley worked for different law firms before starting his own in 1965. In 1970, he ran for lieutenant governor in the Democratic primary election. He won the first round and then won the runoff election to become the Lieutenant Governor.
He was the 22nd Lieutenant Governor when Governor George Wallace was shot and badly hurt in May 1972. Because Governor Wallace was out of state recovering for more than 20 days, the Constitution of Alabama required Beasley to step in. He became the acting governor for a short period, from June 5 to July 7, 1972.
In 1974, Beasley ran for lieutenant governor again and won the runoff election. In 1978, he tried to become governor but did not win the nomination.
Private Law Practice
After his campaign for governor in 1978, Jere Beasley decided to leave politics. He went back to practicing law. He started his own law firm with the goal of helping people who had been wronged by powerful companies.
His firm, now called Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C., has grown a lot. It has over 90 lawyers and more than 200 support staff. The firm has offices in Atlanta, Georgia, and in Mobile and Montgomery, Alabama. In January 2024, Beasley Allen celebrated its 45th anniversary.
Beasley is known as a skilled trial lawyer. His firm has a national reputation for winning significant awards for its clients.
Important Legal Cases
Beasley's law firm has handled several major cases:
- In 1993, they won $10 million for the family of a farmer who died in a tractor accident. The tractor company, Kubota, had not included important safety features.
- In 2003, a jury ordered Exxon Mobil Corporation to pay Alabama $11.8 billion. This was for not paying enough royalties for natural gas. The amount was later reduced to $3.6 billion after an appeal.
- In 2007, the firm helped resolve claims against the drug company Merck & Co. Merck agreed to pay $4.85 billion because its drug Vioxx caused health problems. This was the largest pharmaceutical settlement at the time.
- In 2013, a jury ordered Toyota Motor Corp. to pay $3 million in damages. This was because a car defect caused an accident that injured one person and killed another.
- In 2015, Beasley Allen represented Alabama in a major agreement with BP. This was for damages from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Alabama received over $2 billion as part of this agreement. This was one of the largest environmental settlements ever.
Community Involvement
Jere Beasley is very active in his community. He supports groups like the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association. He is also involved with the Lions Club and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
He is a member of the Staff Parish Relations for St. James United Methodist Church. In 2006, the March of Dimes named him "Citizen of the Year."
In 2018, the Montgomery Sunrise Rotary Club gave Beasley an award for his public service. This recognized his dedication to helping others and improving his community.
Beasley Allen Law Firm also received an award in 2018 for its work in downtown Montgomery. The firm helped bring the Montgomery Biscuits baseball team to the city. They also provided land for the Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium. This stadium helped to revitalize the downtown area when it opened in 2004.
The firm also received an award in 2018 for preserving historic buildings in Montgomery. They have bought and renovated several buildings on Commerce Street. This street is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In January 2020, Beasley received the Service & Achievement Award from the Montgomery County Bar Association. This award honors lawyers who show high standards of professionalism and outstanding legal ability.
See also
- List of Auburn University people
