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 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 awards for its clients.
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Early Life and Education
Jere Beasley was born in 1935 in Tyler, Texas. His parents were Browder Locke Beasley and Florence Camp. He grew up in Clayton, Alabama, where his father owned a small grocery store.
Beasley earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Auburn University. In 1958, he married Sara Baker. He later studied law at the University of Alabama School of Law. He received his law degree in 1962.
Political Career in Alabama
Jere Beasley started his own law practice in 1965. A few years later, he entered politics.
Becoming Lieutenant Governor
In 1970, Beasley ran for lieutenant governor as a Democrat. He won the first round of the primary election. However, he did not get enough votes to win outright. He then won the second round, called a runoff election.
He became the 22nd Lieutenant Governor of Alabama. In 1972, Governor George Wallace was badly hurt. This happened in Laurel, Maryland. Because Governor Wallace was out of the state for more than 20 days, the Constitution of Alabama required Beasley to step in. He served as acting governor from June 5 to July 7, 1972.
In 1974, Beasley ran for lieutenant governor again. He faced a challenge from Charles Woods. Woods finished first in the primary. But just like in 1970, Beasley won the runoff election. He served another term as lieutenant governor. In 1978, he ran for governor but did not win.
Private Law Practice
After his time in politics, Jere Beasley returned to practicing law. He wanted to help people who had been wronged. He decided to start a new law firm. This firm would help everyday people and small businesses. It would stand up against powerful companies.
Beasley Allen Law Firm
The firm was founded on the idea of "helping those who need it most." It aimed to provide legal help to people and businesses who were harmed through no fault of their own. This idea is still central to the firm's work today.
The firm is now known as Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C. It has grown to include over 90 lawyers. It also has more than 200 support staff. The firm has offices in Atlanta, Georgia; Mobile, Alabama; and Montgomery, Alabama. In January 2024, Beasley Allen celebrated its 45th anniversary.
Jere Beasley is known as a skilled trial lawyer. His firm has a national reputation for winning large awards for its clients.
Important Cases Handled by the Firm
Beasley's law firm has worked on many significant cases:
- In 1993, the firm helped the family of Durwood Spivey. He was a 67-year-old farmer who died when his tractor overturned. The tractor company, Kubota, agreed to pay the family $10 million. The tractor did not have a safety feature called a rollover protection structure.
- In 2003, a jury ordered Exxon Mobil Corporation to pay the State of Alabama $11.8 billion. This was for not paying enough royalties on natural gas. Exxon appealed, and the amount was later reduced to $3.6 billion.
- In 2007, the firm helped resolve claims against the drug company Merck & Co. Their drug Vioxx was linked to heart attacks and strokes. Merck agreed to pay $4.85 billion. This is still the largest drug settlement in history.
- In 2013, an Oklahoma City jury ordered Toyota Motor Corp. to pay $3 million in damages. This was because a defect in a Toyota Camry caused it to speed up by itself. The accident seriously injured one person and killed another.
- In 2015, Beasley Allen represented the State of Alabama in a major agreement with BP. This was for damages from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Alabama received over $2 billion. This agreement was part of a larger deal, one of the biggest environmental settlements ever.
Community Involvement
Jere Beasley is very active in his community. He supports many groups, including 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.
Awards and Recognition
In 2006, the March of Dimes named Beasley "Citizen of the Year."
In 2018, the Montgomery Sunrise Rotary Club gave him an award. This recognized his dedication to helping others and improving the community.
Also in 2018, the Beasley Allen Law Firm received the Montgomery Impact Maker Award. This was for their work in helping to improve downtown Montgomery. The firm played a key role in bringing the Montgomery Biscuits baseball team to the city. They also provided the land for the Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium. This stadium helped to bring new life to the downtown area when it opened in 2004.
The firm also received the James L. Loeb Preservation Award in 2018. This was for helping to preserve historic buildings in Montgomery. The firm has bought and renovated several buildings on Commerce Street.
In 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.
