WILLIAM R. NEESE – WBBJ TV
WILLIAM R. NEESE,
DISTINGUISHED ATTORNEY
AND Profitable BUSINESSMAN,
HAS Handed
William R. Neese of Paris, who won difference as an lawyer and businessman in Tennessee and further than, and whose charitable efforts elevated quite a few of his neighbors, has died. Henry County and the State of Tennessee have misplaced an extraordinary chief and caring servant and steward of the general public good.
Mr. Neese was tragically taken on Saturday, July 16th, about 9:00 p.m. by a truck that struck him close to Paris just after he and his beloved wife, Susan, experienced been listening to musician pals accomplish.
Invoice Neese was born on October 13, 1946 in San Bernardino, California, but he grew up in Henry County and in Tennessee. His mother and father had been Fred Talley Neese and Martha Morris Neese.
Bill graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin, then in 1972 from the University of Tennessee University of Legislation. He initially practiced with the Strawbridge Legislation Agency in Dresden.
In 1974, he moved to Paris and “hung out his shingle.” Bill’s follow bundled numerous company shoppers and he served on the board of the Plumley Corporation for many several years.
Bill also was appointed by the court docket and retained by numerous citizens billed with major crimes. One particular area attorney opined that Bill Neese has tried using extra murder cases than the rest of the area bar put together.
One particular of Mr. Neese’s most noteworthy cases was symbolizing a 19-yr-outdated African-American woman, Ms. Edna Stubblefield. Mr. Neese appealed her murder conviction arguing that the systematic exclusion of both Blacks and females from Henry County juries deprived his shopper of a reasonable demo. Neese reported at the time, “I didn’t enter the exercise of regulation to be a crusader, but it has apparently turned out that way.” And what a crusader he was. Mr. Neese collaborated on the scenario with upcoming United States Supreme Court docket Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg. Correspondence amongst Justice Ginsburg and Mr. Neese is in her papers.
Bill soon won difference and clientele as a trial law firm and enterprise advisor, and he continued in basic legislation follow right up until 1983. That 12 months he purchased an desire in Henry County’s Replogle Lumber Business. Altering the identify to Phoenix Lumber, he correctly managed the organization for a range of yrs.
Whilst however living in Paris, he returned to the follow of law by signing up for Dresden lawyers, 1st working towards with George Thomas until eventually his retirement, then with Roy Herron and Nancy Miller-Herron. Mr. Neese served as the Weakley County Attorney for many many years, as well as symbolizing many region businesses, this sort of as Henry County Spinks Clay Business and Lhoist North The us. Several enterprises and attorneys depended on him, and his friends considered him the preeminent company lawyer in the location.
In 2008, Mr. Neese and his daughter, Ellen Neese Adams, proven Henry County’s initial father and daughter legislation organization. Neese Law Firm specializes in company regulation and serious estate issues.
Among the the statewide bar, Mr. Neese was a chief. He was picked as a prestigious Tennessee Bar Basis Fellow, a difference held by incredibly handful of.
Outside the legislation, Bill was a Renaissance gentleman. His a lot of hobbies involved numerous types of transportation, these kinds of as traveling, sailing, bike using and horsemanship.
He was an avid hunter and shooter and incredibly exact with both of those pistols and very long guns. He was requested to coach the Henry County “No Fly” clay focus on groups. A single of his finest joys was leading the youthful shooters to titles and awards each year for 9 yrs, such as nationwide championships. Quite a few of “Mr. Bill’s” shooters acquired university scholarships with their superb techniques.
Mr. Neese also was a experienced writer, and not just in the law. So that his grandsons would know much more about their historical past, Mr. Neese commenced composing stories about rising up in Whitlock. That shortly led to his publishing quite a few is effective in My Paris magazine.
A kind and generous guy, Mr. Neese was dedicated to serving neighbors in will need. He labored with the Phases to Liberty group and aided aid the creating of a residence for females and little ones. Following the example of Scott, Mandy and Liam McDevitt, he aided struggle hunger and meals insecurity by setting up and organizing the county’s Very little Pantries where by hungry citizens can come across sustenance. Bill took distinct fulfillment in buying assets by his and Susan’s house on Blanton Avenue in Paris and turning it into a park and playground for youngsters, comprehensive with a huge basketball court, a soccer industry with a comprehensive-measurement objective, and rope swing from a massive tree.
Mr. Neese served on numerous boards, including the Henry County Health care Foundation. Mr. Neese also served his church, the First United Methodist Church of Paris. At the time of his loss of life, he chaired its Pastor-Parish Relations Committee. He was incredibly grateful to provide with the church’s extraordinary pastor, the Reverend Pleasure Weathersbee, and her partner, the Reverend Dan Weathersbee.
Monthly bill excelled exterior the property, but he was unmatched as Susan Indergard Neese’s devoted spouse of fifty-four (54) several years, the supportive father of Ellen Neese Adams (Josh), and the doting and educating grandfather of his particular boys, Jackson Taylor Adams and William Buchanan “Buck” Adams. His massive satisfaction in his outstanding daughter only soared with the blessings of his and Susan’s grandsons. They ended up the best treasures of his life.
He leaves numerous expensive cousins, both of those Neese and Morris, and lots of superb buddies, which include Rick and Paula Chaffin, Nancy and Roy Herron, Joy and Dan Weathersbee.
Providers will be conducted at 1:00 PM Friday, July 22, 2022 at the 1st United Methodist Church. Burial will abide by at Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 PM Thursday, July 21, at McEvoy Funeral Dwelling and from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM at 1st United Methodist Church.
These wishing to recall Mr. Neese may perhaps make a contribution to any of the next:
The Very little Pantries of Henry County
C/O Initial United Methodist Church
PO Box 25
Paris, TN 38242
Henry County No Fly Zone
Holly Fork Taking pictures Sophisticated
Attn: Mark Watkins, Treasurer
6133 Hwy 79 N
Paris, TN 38242
Pastor’s Benevolent Fund
Initial United Methodist Church
PO Box 25
Paris, TN 38242