Alec Cory was born in Gallup, New Mexico, in 1915. He received his undergraduate degree in finance from the University of California at Berkeley in 1936, and his law degree from Boalt Hall at the University of California at Berkley in 1939. After serving in the Navy in World War II, Mr. Cory returned to San Diego where he opened his law practice in 1946 with partner Edward Schwartz. Their first office in the San Diego Trust and Savings Building at Sixth and Broadway consisted of 300 square feet, two cubicles separated by a partition, a few books, some furniture and a secretary. The firm evolved over the years, merging with Price & Nottbusch in 1947, adding partner A.T. “Tony” Procopio in 1950, and adding Hargreaves and Savitch’s names to establish the present firm name, Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP, in 1967.
Under the stewardship of Alec Cory, the firm grew steadily in both size and reputation after Tony Procopio’s death in 1974. In the last half of the 20th Century, the firm grew from 2 partners in a 300 square foot office to its current complement of more than 110 professionals in downtown San Diego and Carlsbad. Mr. Cory also endowed Procopio with an enduring commitment to both its clients and the community. The firm will continue to uphold those values with ongoing support of charitable, community, cultural, educational and professional organizations throughout the San Diego region.
Mr. Cory was the founder of the Legal Aid Society and was recognized for outstanding achievements by the San Diego Volunteer Lawyers Program and the San Diego County Bar Association. In May 2002, the San Diego Advocates for Social Justice honored Mr. Cory at the 11th Anniversary Celebration of Justice. As past president of the San Diego Bar Association and as an activist and philanthropist, Mr. Cory received a proclamation of appreciation from then Governor Gray Davis marking April 24th “Alec Cory Day” in California. He was also named an Inaugural Fellow by the San Diego County Bar Foundation in 2005.
Mr. Cory actively practiced law for over 47 years before retiring in 1993.