University of North Carolina Chapel Hill - Yackety Yack Yearbook (Chapel Hill, NC)

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Junius Parker f ' ' HE YACKETY YACK for 1913 is fortunate in associating with itself the M m name of a loyal son of the University, who represents with honor to her and to the State her best traditions in a distant and exacting field — Mr. Junius Parker, of New ork, N. Y., general counsel of the American Tobacco Company. Junius Parker comes by inheritance to the legal profession. His father, CapL Edward S. Parker, is a prominent lawyer of Graham, who has filled the office of Solicitor of the old Fifth District, and has served in the State Senate. Junius Parker was born September 24, 1867, at Smithfield, but he entered the University in 1 885 from Graham. As an undergraduate student, he remained only two years. He returned, however, to study law under Dr. Manning, and was admitted to the Bar in 1889. Mr. Parker practiced his profession for about five years at Durham. Those years were most important in his future life, since they brought him into contact with Mr. James B. Duke, the head of the American Tobacco Company, and Mr. W. W. Fuller, who as general counsel of the Company so ably conducted its legal affairs. Yet not for several years was he to become connected with that Company. In 1 894, he removed to Knoxville, Tenn., where in a short time he built up a large and remunerative practice. He married, in 1 899, Miss Mary W. Locke, of Knoxville; and the same year he removed to New York as assistant general counsel of the American Tobacco Company. Two years ago, when the United States Supreme Court rendered its decree in the famous case of the American Tobacco Company — a case which Mr. Parker argued before that Court with Messrs. John G. Johnson and DeLancey Nicoll — the Company was dissolved in conformity with the decree, and Mr. Parker became general counsel of the American Tobacco Company as reorganized. During his residence in New York, Mr. Parker has maintained a warm and loyal interest in the affairs of his native State and of his Alma Mater. He is a member of the New York Southern Society, of the North Carolina Society (of which he was president in 1909), of the University of North Carolina Alumni Association in New York, and of the New York Alumni Chapter of the Southern Kappa Alpha. In spite of the conspicuous ability which Mr. Parker has demonstrated in the position he occupies, his friends may naturally feel a sense of disappointment that his devotion to the affairs of a single great corporation has prevented his taking the position

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To Junius Parker of New York and Nortk Carolina tke Editors offer tkis volume as a reminder of years spent at tke University and as a token of esteem and respect for a strong and loyal son of Alma Mater

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before the public as an advocate and as a leader of the bar to which his powers and acquirements would have surely entitled him. His capacious intellect, his acute powers of analysis and mastery of legal principles, together with his happy and lucid method of exposition, make in many particulars the ideal equipment of a great lawyer. Some of the readers of the YACKETY Yack who heard his admirable address as alumni speaker two years ago will remember his rich, flexible, and impressive voice, and his winning manner of speaking. As Mr. Parker has had few occasions to appear in the courts of his native State in recent years, the impression which he made upon one of our most distinguished judges, in the trial of a long and intricate case two years ago, will be of interest. Judge Connor, of the Federal District Court, in a letter to the writer speaks of having been impressed when he was on the Superior Bench in the early days of Mr. Parker ' s career with his remarkable clearness of mind, his grasp and comprehension of legal principles, and his power of expression, and of having his impressions confirmed when he recently appeared before him as leading counsel in the case mentioned. After referring in detail to Mr. Parker ' s masterly conduct of the case, both in regard to its facts and the principles of law involved, his courtesy and tact, his strong and clear statements, his frankness and fairness on the trial, he adds: Upon the whole, as a lawyer and a man, I have met, during a somewhat extended experience on the bench, but few who have impressed me more strongly and favorably. The only feeling of regret which I experienced in my associa- tion with Mr. Parker was that he had gone from his native State, and was not a member of the North Carolina Bar. Mr. W. W. Fuller, whose experience has thrown him in intimate associat ' on with many of the greatest leaders of the American bar, declares of Mr. Parker that Considering his knowledge of the law, and his wisdom in applying it; his love of justice, and ability to distinguish it; his fairness, his courage, and his candor, Junius Parker is the best lawyer that I know — or have known. To this laus a laudalis viris there is nothing to add as to Mr. Parker ' s professional ability. The writer ' s thoughts turn rather to an old and tried friend, a delightful com- panion of wide sympathies and keen intellectual interests, to hours of pleasant intercourse, lit up by the play of his genial, quiet humor. — L. P. M.