bearmansrLeo Edward Bearman was born November 29, 1902, in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of shopkeepers.

After graduating from Central High School in Memphis, Tennessee, he enrolled directly into the Vanderbilt University School of Law in Nashville where he graduated in 1923, receiving the honor of Order of the Coif.

He began his law practice in Memphis with two of his brothers, Joseph Bearman and A.D. Bearman, and shortly thereafter formed a partnership with Lee Winchester, Sr., with whom he practiced for many years in the Commerce Title Building in downtown Memphis.

When his son, Leo Bearman Jr., passed the Bar, they formed the Law Firm of Leo Bearman in 1960.  That firm eventually merged with the Heiskell, Donelson firm to form Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz.

Mr. Bearman was married to Dorothy Folz Bearman and had two children, his son Leo and his daughter Kay, as well as 3 grandchildren, David Bearman (an attorney), Edward Bearman (an attorney) and Amy Bearman Dorsey (a teacher at Ridgeway High School).

He held several positions of prominence, including President of the Memphis and Shelby County Bar Association, President of Temple Israel Synagogue, and President of the B'nai B'rith Home and Hospital, the predecessor to the present Memphis Jewish Home.  He was a member of the Memphis Park Commission and a founder of the National Conference of Christians & Jews Chapter in Memphis, later becoming one of its medal recipients.

Mr. Bearman died in 1990.  He was considered one of the finest trial lawyers in Tennessee, having been elected to the American College of Trial Lawyers.