Mr. Joseph Dahr Jamail, Jr.
Class of 1942

Born in Houston on October 19, 1925, Joseph Jamail, Jr., was one of five children born to Joseph and Marie Jamail. His father was one of the founding brothers of the famous Jamail Grocery stores.

After graduating from St. Thomas High School as a member of the Class of 1942, he served his country in the Marine Corps and rose to the rank of sergeant. He then attended the University of Texas at Austin where he received his undergraduate and law degrees.

He married Lee Hage on August 28, 1949. They have three sons, Joseph D. Jamail III, Randall Hage Jamail, and Robert Lee Jamail.

He obtained the first million dollar judgment against General Motors Corporation. He has since added seventy or more judgments or settlements of equal or greater value. He negotiated the largest single settlement ever for one person for John Coates against Remington. This settlement resulted in the recall of thousands of Remington rifles and is recorded in the Guinness Book of Records.

Among the thousands of people he has represented are Farah Fawcett, Alice Snead West (the daughter of Silver Dollar Jim West), Willie Nelson, Darrell Royal and Percy Forman.

In 1986 the University of Texas established the Joseph D. Jamail Centennial Chair in Law. The students at the Law School dedicated the year's yearbook in his honor.

He was able to attain world wide acclaim in obtaining the largest vedict ever in the trial of Pennzoil vs Texaco for $10.5 billion with interest. This judgment now exceeds over $12 billion.

Joe's best efforts have afforded the less fortunate, horribly injured, brain damaged, widowed and orphaned, the opportunity to deal with what life has given them. He has devoted his life to them.

Joseph D. Jamail, Jr., was inducted into the St.Thomas High School Hall of Honor on November 6, 1986.