At Furman University’s 2024 Bell Tower Ball, an annual donor appreciation gala to recognize the service, leadership, and accomplishments of members of the Furman community, James Michael “Jim” Ney (Iota–Furman ’62) was presented with the Gordon L. Blackwell Alumni Service Award. This award recognizes an individual who has dedicated extraordinary service to Furman University or the greater community, advancing Furman’s position as a private institution with a public mission.
In 1984, Jim co-founded Holt Ney Zatcoff & Wasserman, LLP where he practiced until his retirement in 2020. Following law school, Jim served two years as law assistant to the presiding justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia, and later served as the clerk of the State Board of Bar Examiners and as an instructor at John Marshall School of Law. In 1968, he joined Alston & Bird where he practiced 14 years and became a partner in 1973. He was special assistant attorney general of the State of Georgia for three years and served as special attorney general for the State of Ohio. He has chaired the Real Estate Section of the Atlanta Bar, receiving its first annual award of merit. He was also selected for all editions of the “Best Lawyers in America,” 1983-2018.
Jim has given his time and leadership expertise to several boards in the Atlanta area including the board of trustees for the Schenck School (for children with learning disabilities) and for Community Friendship, which works with intellectually disabled adults. In 1995, he was the recipient of the Cobb County Chamber of Commerce award for “Outstanding Community Service.” He served on the board of trustees of the Atlanta Academy and Cobb County Library Foundation. Through the Ney family’s support, the Cobb County Library Foundation offers the Jim & Carol Ney Literary Award in honor of extraordinary books and exceptional authors. The Carol and Jim Ney Art Gallery in Cobb County recognizes the couple’s service and philanthropy.
In 2022, Jim joined the ranks of Furman Trustee Emeriti after years of service, finishing his final term as secretary. In addition to serving on the Furman board, Jim has served the Alumni Board, Annual Giving Council and the Campaign Executive Committee. He and Carol served six years as co-chairs of the Richard Furman Society and were the 2006 recipients of Furman’s “Bell Tower Award.” They are the 2011-2012 “Distinguished Service Award” recipients from the Southern Conference on behalf of Furman. Jim is a longtime member of the Order of the Paladin. He and Carol are members of the Benefactor’s Circle and the Legacy Society and enduring supporters of numerous athletic funds, the Partners Scholarship Program, Bryan Center for Military Science, James B. Duke Library, Mock Trial and the Furman Standard.
Jim earned a bachelor’s in economics at Furman in 1964. He was a member of Kappa Alpha fraternity and a member of the Paladin Football team. He received his J.D. from the University of Georgia in 1966.
Jim is a 9-year member of the Kappa Alpha Order Educational Foundation’s Crimson & Gold Society and a member of the Loyal Order and the Roswell/North River Alumni Chapter, and he has been inducted into the Hardeman and Frampton Courts of Honor.
He and his wife, Carol Nichols Ney, have three daughters and six grandchildren, including Ray Stallings Smith IV (Iota–Furman ’17) and James Aaron “Jimmy” Brewer (Nu–Auburn ’22).
