In Natchez, Mississippi in 1955, David French Bacon Jr. led several of his fellow residents to sign a petition to desegregate the schools.
“That small act – which was very big in 1955 – led to a number of African Americans losing good-paying jobs in that community,” said Willie J. Epps Jr., associate general counsel and head of litigation at Edward Jones. “It led to my grandfather’s truck being bombed in the family’s driveway. It led to the house being stoned. My mom was nine years old at the time.”
Bacon, Willie’s grandfather, was the leader of the town’s NAACP. Willie’s grandmother on his father’s side, Nancy Ellis Epps, risked her life to house freedom fighters in the early 1960s. And she also became the first black woman in Holmes County, Mississippi to vote.
“She’s one of my heroes,” Willie said. “Because of my grandparents, because of the work my parents did in East St. Louis for many years, it led me to want to contribute in various ways.”
Willie is now serving as general counsel, pro bono, for the Missouri State NAACP. He and his wife, Mischa Buford Epps, started a scholarship fund several years ago, and he also sits on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri. But aside from these contributions, he is most proud of his mentoring.
“I take mentoring so seriously because my mentors took it seriously when I needed guidance,” Willie said. “Most mornings I’m having breakfast – and some days lunches – with mentees who are either in college, law school or just starting their careers. Nothing brings me greater joy than to have a mentee call me and tell me they’ve landed some impressive job in New York, or they’ve started their own law practice.”
On Thursday, November 17, Willie will receive the 2016 Corporate Executive of the Year award at the St. Louis American Foundation’s Salute to Excellence in Business Networking & Awards Luncheon.
At Edward Jones, Willie is responsible for all lawsuits, arbitrations and complaints involving the firm. He leads a team of in-house litigators and complaints investigators. However, with 14,000 financial advisors operating in 50 states and throughout Canada, Willie also coordinates and works with outsourced litigators.
“One thing I really enjoy about my job as head of litigation is that anytime a lawsuit or arbitration is filed, I get a chance to hire some of the strongest outside lawyers throughout this country,” he said. “It’s a complete joy to work closely with them to resolve any kind of litigation pending against the firm.”
A practicing lawyer for 21 years, Willie spent the bulk of his career as a trial lawyer. He started his legal career serving in the U.S. Air Force JAG Corps as a judge advocate and special assistant U.S. attorney for four years. He went on to work as an assistant special counsel for The Waco Investigation. Later, he was named chief compliance officer at Charter Communications, Inc. and partner at two prominent Missouri-based law firms: Dowd Bennett LLP and Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP (in Kansas City.)
At the firms, he said he was able to hone his “craft as a strong litigator and trial lawyer.” He joined Edward Jones about two years ago.
Willie was born in Mississippi and raised in Florissant. His parents, Willie and Barbara Epps, are retired as educational administrators from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (East St. Louis Campus).
“I joke with my father that he never graduated from high school, yet went on to earn a Ph.D.” Willie said.
In Tchula, Mississippi, where his father was raised, black children were not allowed to attend the main high school. Instead he graduated from the all-black Tchula Attendance Center. Both of his parents earned their doctorates.
Though his parents worked in East St. Louis, they chose to raise their children in North St. Louis County, where Willie attended Hazelwood schools. He ultimately graduated from St. Louis Country Day School, and went on to earn a degree from Amherst College, cum laude, and then Harvard Law School. He was elected student body president at all three schools.
Willie’s professional accomplishments “speak for themselves,” said Jared Boyd, immediate past president of the Mound City Bar Association and chief of staff and counsel for the St. Louis treasurer’s Office.
“But his investment in building up other people is what makes him truly remarkable,” Boyd said. “Willie’s fingerprints are all over the Missouri legal community, and attorneys on both side of the state count on him as a mentor. St. Louis is extremely fortunate.”
The 17th Annual Salute to Excellence in Business Awards & Networking Luncheon will be held Thursday, November 17 at the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis, with a networking reception at 11 a.m. and luncheon program at noon. Tickets are $100 for VIP/Preferred seating, $75 for general admission. Call 314-533-8000 or visitwww.stlamerican.com for more information or to purchase tickets.
