Daniel Joseph Thompson, Jr.: A Great American and Trailblazing Lawyer

By: Donald V. Watkins

Copyrighted and Published on March 17, 2026

Attorney Daniel Joseph Thompson, Jr., Atlanta, Georgia

Daniel Joseph Thompson, Jr., (1948–2025) was a prominent Atlanta-based attorney with a career spanning over 50 years. Dan specialized in corporate law, communications, and litigation. He passed away on June 6, 2025, at the age of 77. 

Dan and I were the only two Blacks who passed the Alabama Bar exams in September 1973.

Dan was born on April 6, 1948, in Tuskegee, Alabama. He attended Brown University, where he graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in 1970. Dan earned his Juris Doctor from Harvard University Law School in 1973. 

During the summers of 1971 and 1972, Dan and I interned together at the law offices of Gray, Seay, and Langford. Dan worked in the firms Tuskegee office, while I worked in the Montgomery office.

Dan was licensed to practice in multiple jurisdictions, including Alabama (1973), Georgia (1975), and the U.S. Supreme Court (1979). His primary areas of practice included: 

• Communications and Regulatory Law: He was well-known for his expertise in this field.

• Corporate Law: He served as a retired corporate attorney and formerly held the roles of Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary for the BellSouth Advertising and Publishing Group in Atlanta.

• Employment and Civil Rights: He practiced in employment discrimination law and civil rights litigation.

• Intellectual Property: His practice also covered copyright and trademark law. 

Dan was often the first Black to serve in senior management executive roles for BellSouth.  He was no “Uncle Tom.” Dan empowered others.

Throughout my legal career, Dan was a constant source of wisdom, strength, and support for me and my family.

The video of Dan's funeral is presented here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_azmWbGxo0g

Dan and I always set high professional goals for ourselves and we pursued them without hesitation or reservation. I feel his presence in everything I do on the international business scene.

I miss my friend, colleague, comrade in the civil rights movement, and staunch supporter! I will march into battle without him.