10 in his enthusiasm. It is as infectious as a virus. Above all else. Jack communi路 cates.'
In recent years. Deacon has served as a member of the ABA's Board of Governor's from the Eleventh District (Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma), as a member of the Board of Directors of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and as chairman of the Research Fellows of the Southwestern Legal Foundation, A member of the American Bar Commission on Medical Professional Liability from 1975 to 1980 and a member of the American Academy of Hospital Attorneys, Deacon has developed noteworthy expertise in healthcare law. Although
~~~~~===~~~~jh~e calls himself a general practitioner, representing a broad spectrum of
~
Jack Deacon
clients, in the last 15 to 20 years he has spent a large portion of his time in the defense of medical malpractice cases. Indeed, he has been on the cutting edge of many of the significant Arkansas appellate decisions in healthcare law during the last decade. Today, the busy law practice and work for his community and profession continue. This year, he will have served 20 consecutive years in the ABA's House of Delegates. He also serves as chairman of the prestigious Steering Committee of the ABA's Public Education Division, planning and coordinating all the ABA's activities for the 1987 Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution, along with other ABA public education programs. Two of Deacon's sons have followed their father and grandfather into the law, first Barry in 1975, then Rush in 1978 - both continuing many of the interests and involvements long associated with their family and both having added activities and developed specialties of their own. Joseph Barrett Deacon (Barry) was born in 1950 and raised in Jonesboro where he distinguished himself as a champion swimmer, holding many state records. He attended the U of A on a swimming scholarship. At Arkansas. he was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity, as had been his father, and served as its president. Barry was named to Omicron Delta Kappa honorary fraternity before he graduated in 1972 with a degree in Business and Finance. In 1975, he graduated from the U of A School of Law and joined the Barrett, Wheatley, Smith & Deacon law firm where he is now a partner.
SS/Arkansas Lawyer/April 1986
B
arry has served as president of the Board of Blessed Sacramen t School in Jonesboro and is currently serving a second term as president of the Board of Cottage of Hope, a school for children with developmental disabilities. He has also chaired various sections of United Way and has served on the Board of Directors of the Jonesboro Rotary Club. He is a member of the ABA's Litigation and General Practice Sections and is active in the Association, where he has served on various committees and the YLS' Executive Council. Rush Brennan Deacon was born in 1953 and raised in Jonesboro, where he also became a champion swimmer. After attending Hendrix College for one year, he graduated from the U of A in 1975 with a B.S.B.A. degree in Accounting. At Arkansas, Rush like his father and two brothers before him, became a Sigma Chi. and like Barry, was elected president. After graduating from the U of A School of Law in 1978, Rush worked with Price Waterhouse & Co. in Houston, Texas, as a stall accountant in the international division of its tax department. Alter one year in Houston, he moved to London, England, for a one year assignment in Price Waterhouse's international headquarters. Leaving Price Waterhouse to return to school. Rush earned a Master of Laws Degree in Taxation from Southern Methodist University Law School in 1981. He worked for two years with the North Little Rock law firm of Wallace, Hilburn, Clayton, Calhoun & Forster before joining Stephens, Inc. of Little Rock in June 1983. He is currently vice presidentFinance at United Pacific Trading, Inc., an international trading company formed in 1983 by Stephens and the Lippa Group of Indonesia. Rush is on the Board of Directors of the Mid-South International Trade Association, is a certified public accountant and a registered securities representative licensed both federally and in Arkansas. Chief Justice Vincent L, McKusick of Maine once praised Joe Barrett as a man who "showed the way to all of us who come from smaller states and smaller communities the impact that a good lawyer can have." Jack Deacon's ellorts on behalf of his profession and of his community dramatically underscore and add to that lesson. And now Rush and Barry represent a third generation of Barrett/Deacon lawyers, insuring that the family tradition of excellence and service will continue to have an impact - on Arkansas and beyond. 0