Memorials, 1114 ALBJ, 75 The Alabama Lawyer 406 (2013)
| Author | Alley, John Thomason, Jr., Callahan, Nicholas Peter, Jr., Francis, Rick Duran, Gallo, Barbara Hefner, Hamer, Judy Layne Poore, Hicks, Charles Andrew, Keyes, John James, Jr., Simpson, Fred Bryan, Tasheiko, Leonid John, Whitesell, Calvin Mercer, Womble, Mickey, Judges. |
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\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0Samuel Austin Beatty
\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0In the movie "Bucket List" Edward Cole was asked to speak at the funeral of his new best friend. He said, "I hate funerals but I loved Carter." I also hate funerals but I loved Sam Beatty. I also love the way Apple and Sam loved each other, their family and their friends.
\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0My relationship with Sam began in 1962. I was a terrified first-year law student. The reputations of certain law school professors contributed to my fear. Dr. Sam Beatty was rumored to be the "baddest" of them all.
\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0At first, it seemed the rumors were true. I, along with every other law student in Dr. Beatty's classes, took turns getting lashed by his sharp tongue and quick wit while standing naked-like by or on our desks in front of our classmates.
\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0However, we began to realize that Dr. Beatty was not the devil personified—his teaching methodology had a noble purpose. He cared deeply about each one of us and wanted us to learn to think on our feet. He was preparing us to accomplish more than we ever thought we were capable of accomplishing. He knew the road to success for a lawyer was always under construction. He knew that if we jumped off the boat in the first Beatty storm, we would never make it as a lawyer. It was his goal to instill in us the confidence to advocate with the very best.
\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0Many of us stayed in close communication with Sam after law school—seeking his wise counsel or just having fun with him. On one occasion, we reversed roles, and pushed him to achieve a goal beyond what he thought was possible.
\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0In 1976, several former students agreed that Sam would make an excellent member of the Alabama Supreme Court. The only problems were: (1) we hadn't discussed it with him and (2) there were only two days left to qualify.
\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0Ted Taylor and I drove to Tuscaloosa to talk with him. Sam argued that he had...
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