1. Advertising / public relations writing
Project: Alumni magazine feature
Client: Duquesne University School of Law – Pittsburgh, Pa.
It was 2004 when John McGinley decided to leave the generation, John Kennedy got elected, and he was the first
Pittsburgh law firm Dickie McCamey & Chilcote and join Catholic president. My interest took me toward the law.‖
Wilson-McGinley, the prominent western Pennsylvania
John, 40, did his undergraduate work at Villanova, where he
beer wholesaler that bears his family’s name. As vice
studied political science — ―Although my dad would say I didn’t
president of Wilson-McGinley, McGinley helps oversee an
study much,‖ he notes.
operation that has been in business for more than 60
years. ―I always had an idea I was going to go to law school, just
because, growing up with my dad, you didn’t know what else to
Given the circumstances, some might say that he simply
do,‖ he says. ―I figured Duquesne was a natural choice.‖
left one family business for another.
Mary, 32, received a degree in sociology from Penn State. It
Like his father, Jack, and younger sister, Mary, McGinley
wasn’t until her junior year that she decided to attend law
is a graduate of Duquesne School of Law. He was an
school.
attorney with Dickie McCamey & Chilcote for about eight
years before going to work for the business his ―I did not always know that I would go to law school and become
grandfather co-founded in 1949. an attorney,‖ she says. ―It was always something that I
considered and thought might happen, but it wasn’t something
―I just thought it was a special opportunity that not
that I was definitely going to do. But if I was going to go to law
everybody has, to be involved in a business that’s been
school, it was going to be Duquesne.‖
successful and has been part of our family for so long,‖
explains John McGinley, who graduated from Duquesne In making that decision, she had the benefit of observing her
in 1995. brother’s experience just a few years earlier.
His sister agrees. ―I lived in same house as my brother during his first year. I think
I saw him come out of his room for meals,‖ she says, noting the
―I think it was a great choice for him, and I think it has
commitment required of law students. ―But I also saw when he
been a great thing for the business,‖ says Mary, who has
made Law Review, and that he got a really nice job offer coming
been with the Pittsburgh firm Meyer, Unkovic & Scott
out of school.
since 2002. ―I think the stars just aligned with that one.‖
―My father really has such a passion for the profession, I think
John had his dad’s blessing, as well.
both my brother and my father were good sounding boards in
―I can remember when he called me,‖ Jack McGinley says. my decision-making process.‖
―When he raised the topic with me, I encouraged him to
Father, son and daughter cite many of the same qualities that
discuss the opportunity with his grandfather. I was happy
make Duquesne special: the faculty, the relationships, the
that John had an interest in a family business to which I
culture and the proximity to a bustling court system just blocks
knew he could make a very good contribution.‖
from campus.
Of course, it’s entirely possible that neither of the siblings
After starting his career as a co-founder of Grogan, Graffam,
would have become Duquesne-educated lawyers had it
McGinley & Lucchino in 1970, Jack McGinley reflects with a
not been for the influence of their father.
sense of satisfaction.
―I don't think I ever told John and Mary to be lawyers,‖
―I’ve wanted to serve my clients, my profession and my
says the elder McGinley, who is on the board of directors
community. I hope I’ve been able to accomplish all three,‖ he
and chairs the executive committee at Eckert Seamans. ―I
says.
think they saw that I was a practicing lawyer, and that it's
an enriching profession. I was pleased they made the John says that his dad’s reverence and passion for the
choice to go to law school, but it was their own (choice),‖ profession have made it difficult to distinguish the father from
he says. the attorney.
―I’m real proud of them.‖ ―His work just became generally part of our lives. Real quickly,
we learned that his actions professionally carried into his
McGinley, who graduated in 1968, was himself influenced
everyday life, and you can’t separate the two. His character is
by family in choosing Duquesne after receiving an
consistent personally and professionally,‖ John says. ―He’s
undergraduate degree from St. Bonaventure.
generally very active in the community, very active
―My family had many roots at Duquesne,‖ he says. ―I was professionally.
always interested in a service profession. For my
―I know all of his children have taken note of it.‖