J. Neal

J. W. Neal was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma in 1928. He moved with his parents to New Mexico in 1931. He was raised in Carlsbad, New Mexico. He graduated from the University of New Mexico in 1949 and then attended the University of Oklahoma Law School receiving his law degree in 1953. J. W. passed the New Mexico State Bar Exam in 1953 and began practicing law with his uncle, C. Melvin Neal, in Hobbs, New Mexico until his full retirement in 2004. He was born into a family of prominent lawyers who practiced law in South Eastern New Mexico starting in 1925. The family of lawyers ranged from State senators, judges of the Supreme Court of New Mexico, Court of Appeals and District Judges.

In 2000 the State Bar honored J. W. Neal with a Century of Achievement Award. This award recognizes attorneys and judges who have made exemplary and substantial contributions to the practice of law in New Mexico in the Twentieth Century publicly acknowledging service, dedication and contributions to the legal profession. J. W. Neal's award was for the 1970's.
J. W. Neal was made a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the Roehl Circle of Honor.

His retirement came about when his secretary of 45 years told him by reason of his macular degeneration and loss of hearing it was "time to retire", his response was "Lock the Door".
Friends and professional colleagues have long admired J. W. Neal for his personal integrity and professional commitment to serving the public, his clients and his Bar Association.

J. W. is survived by his wife, Temple, four children; Randy Neal, Claudia Young, Laura Barbaree and Patty Neal, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Celebration of Life services will be held Thursday, July 30, 2015 at 2pm at Chapel

Service

Memorial Contributions