The Barry Club: from 1950 to 1984
by JV Lowry
Deputy Chief James Pete Leach raised me. He taught me that there are three kinds of people in this world: “Some who watch things happen, some wonder what happened, and some make things happen. You make things happen.”
Edward F. Barry was a man of exceptional qualities and a true force of change. His life was a testament to the power of dedication and service. He devoted his life to charitable causes, leaving a lasting impact on the community.
Our story revolves around one man who spent his life making things happen. Then, in 1950, several friends from St. Michael and St. Louis Catholic Church joined in to help him. The kind works of these friends made a community impact that few know about today. All six of these fine men made things happen. The group worked quietly behind the scenes, a powerful testament to the strength of community and collaboration.
Like Abe Plough, Ed Barry was a man of anonymity despite his significant contributions. His humility and selflessness, a testament to his character, inspired others to follow his example and feel motivated to contribute to their communities.
Ed Barry spent his whole adult life bringing volunteerism and charity to life. He was born in Memphis to Edward Barry from County Cork, Ireland, and Sarah Ann Maude Kelly from Milwaukee.
His family lived at 91 Willett, and he was baptized and reared at Sacred Heart, where he attended grade school. He attended Christian Brothers from 1908 to 1910, graduated from Marquette Academy High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1912, and received a degree in 1915 from St Mary’s College in St Mary’s, Kansas. He served in the U.S. Army during WWI, and after the war, he got his law degree from Georgetown University in Washington, DC. in 1920. He practiced law in Texas in 1920, and in 1923, he returned to Memphis.
From 1930 onwards, Ed Barry became a familiar face at every civic club and garden club in Memphis, sharing his belief in the importance of community contribution. His influence extended far beyond his immediate circle, inspiring others to follow his example.
In 1932, He and Eugene Lerner opened a very successful Law Practice in the Commerce Title Building. During his life, he would serve as legal advisor to five different Bishops.
In May 1933, he was involved with the 19th-century project to unite Christians, Catholics, and Jews in the first-ever religious understanding group.
In September 1933, he was appointed to the Anti-Profiteering League. He and Attorney Ed Weinstein would serve as legal counsel. The group of city well-informed civilian members aimed to ensure that businesses’ unfair practices and prices would not be imposed on life’s necessities.
In 1933, the Commercial Appeal Newspaper awarded him the Humanitarian Award for that year.
In 1946, he was elected President of the Memphis Hospital Services Association. He was the driving force behind making Blue Cross available to West Tennessee and constructing St Agnes and Saint Dominic’s schools and CBHS. In 1950, after building a large home on Waring Road, he started attending St Michael’s Catholic Church.
And he was the driving force behind the 52-year-old Mile-Of-Dimes city-wide Hunger Project. The Mile-of-Dimes was a hunger relief project supported by the City of Memphis. Every year, Firefighters and Police officers worked the Mile-of-Dimes booths on several downtown corners. Large sacks consist of turkey, canned ham, trimmings, and other necessary food items for more than 10,000 needy Memphians. The Memphis Police always knew who these families were. They were distributed by Firefighters and Police officers at Christmas time.
As a lifelong avid Baseball fan, he co-owned the Memphis Chicks with Thompson “ Doc” Prothro and Frank Longinotti.
He served on many boards of directors. Ed Barry’s commitment to philanthropy was evident in his involvement with numerous organizations. He served on the Memphis Housing Commission, Cotton Council, Community Chest, American Red Cross, and St Joseph Hospital boards. His crowning achievement was his chairmanship of the St Jude Research Hospital board in 1955, a role he held until 1982. His contributions to these organizations were significant, shaping the community in profound and lasting ways.
Danny Thomas said after Barry died that if it had not been for Ed Barry, St Jude Hospital would never have been built. In 1957, He won the Civitan Club Man of the Year award.
He was the Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus on three occasions; In 1961, he won the Highest Catholic Award, the Military Order of Malta. Ed Barry served as a Commander of the American Legion Post Number 1. In 1962, he won the National Human Relations Award from the National Council of Christians and Jews.
Ed Barry died of a short Illness on September 13, 1984.
Abe Plough also died in 1984
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The Barry Club
Several friends and church members joined him in what was known to all Catholic Priests in the area.
John Montesi Family Grocery Business
Find A Grave 39538615
Mose Karnowsky Jr, Pawn Shop and Liquor Store Business
Find A Grave 195033456
Joseph Canepari Cadillac Dealership
Find A Grave 114923679
George Sammons, Amusement machine business
Find A Grave 33023270
Bert M Bates Political, Civic, Business Leader and Former U. S. Marshall
Find A Grave 75967402
Joseph Montesi Family Grocery Business, Blockbuster Company
Find A Grave 32485622
How the Barry Group worked:
All of these men were fine Christian men. They were generous, charitable givers. They worked behind the scenes, making the world a truly better place.
If a Priest came to Ed Barry and said, “ I have someone in extreme financial trouble and needs help.” Ed would usually gather the group at his home on Waring Rd, and the group would discuss the best way to help. It might be a cash sum or even a home mortgage payment. Either way, The group gave the money to the parish priest to administer. I’m not a Catholic, but if I told the priest that I can’t accept this, I’m sure he would say take this; although it is a gift, you can repay it by being a good Catholic.
Resources:
Commercial Appeal
March 22, 1931, Page 9
December 26, 1932, Pg 3
May22,1933,1and4
September 21, 1933
December 6, 1946, pg. 16
November 27, 1983 pg 17
September 14, 1984, pg 31 his obituary
Find A Grave # 121981454
Press On a Journey Worth Taking by James C McWillie Guidance from John R S Robilio of the OMH Research Group
Words of wisdom, pictures, and documentation from the Catholic Diocese from Brother Joel McGraw.