Willie E. Peale Jr

Frankfort – Willie E. Peale, Jr. age 74, passed away Monday, March 3, 2025. Services will be held at First Baptist Church, Clinton Street, on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. with Rev. Dr. Bishop E. Carter, III officiating. Visitation will be held at First Baptist Church, Clinton Street, from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Mr. Peale was born in Jackson Mississippi on April 6, 1950, as the eldest of two children from the union of Willie Edward, Sr., and Nellie Johnson Peale. His early education was in the Jackson State College community beginning with nursery school, kindergarten, and the Laboratory school grades 1 though 8. On completion of eighth grade, he attended Lanier High School. It was at this point he began his athletic career, playing scholastic football and baseball. Yet, he also played baseball in summer leagues since the age of 10. It was during this period he developed his sense of social activism in what has been termed "the turbulent 60s" when Jackson, Mississippi was a "bastion of segregation" with fervent civil rights activity. Specifically, he marched and demonstrated with Dr. King, Stokely Carmichael, James Meredith, Charles Evers, and Aaron Henry, at other times with others based on the purpose of the demonstration.
His activism led he and his classmates and friends to found a community service organization named "Organization of African American Youth" aka OBAAY, which was dedicated to the improvement and service in the community. This organization existed for 15 years. His activism included being one of the first Black students to attend, then, an all-white Murrah High School. His attendance was brief, due to not being able to join the football team. He then returned to Lanier High School where he graduated.
During his attendance at Lanier, he made all city, all conference, and all state in both football and baseball for three years. He received one of the first scholarships offers to attend an SEC school, Mississippi State University. He began his college education as a freshman scholarship player at Wiley College in Marshall, Texas. When Wiley discontinued its athletic programs, except basketball, he transferred to Kentucky State College, now KSU. His collegiate athletic career was highlighted by my senior year when he served as captain of the football team. This team set the modern record for wins in a season at eight, and played in the 1971 Orange Blossom Classic for the mythical Black Nation Championship against Florida A&M University.
On graduation from KSU in 1973, he began his full-time employment at KSU in the biology research program. He also worked with the football team as an assistant. After three years, he decided to pursue law and was accepted in the 1975 University of Kentucky Law School where he graduated in 1978. His legal career began in the Kentucky Attorney General's Office as an assistant. After two years, he decided to start his own practice and opened his own firm as a solo practitioner on November 1, 1980. His practice served as a general practice that spanned over the Commonwealth and surrounding states in both state and federal court. Mr. Peale was elected as the President of the Franklin County Bar Association and was the first African American to serve over a county bar association in the Commonwealth. After 43 years, he retired from law.
Mr. Peale has received numerous awards over the years and rendered service to his community. Some of his most cherished awards include Hall of Fame in KSU football; NAFEO Alumnus of the Year, KSUNAA Alumnus of the Year, Charles Anderson Award, Omega Man of the Year, United Way Citizen of the Year, Frankfort Arts Foundation for continuous sponsorship of Black History Month Programs. Mr. Peale was a life member of KSUNAA and have served as legal advisor over the years. His "Homecoming Open House" was an example of his ongoing love for KSU and its graduates who came back annually to enjoy the event. He was also a lifetime member of NAACP – having represented referred clients in discrimination and employment cases. He was also a life member of UK Alumni Association and UK Law Alumni Association.
He also belonged to Prince Hall F&AM of Kentucky and served as Grand Counselor, the K Club, KSU Hall of Fame, and Team Legacy. However, his heart and soul remain loyal to KSU. He most recently served as a member of KSU Foundation Board of Trustee and served as its President.
Mr. Peale was divorced, but is survived by his three boys, Willie III, David, and Porter; sister, Vicki, and grandchildren, Elijah and Iya.
Arrangements are under the direction of Harrod Brothers Funeral Home & Crematory.