Terry R. Nealey Retirement Party

Seneca Activity Center

January 2, 2015

4:30 - 6:30 p.m.

DAYTON - Attorney Terry Nealey, who came to Dayton to practice law in 1976, announced that he will end his law practice at the end of this month. As he enters his fourth term in the Washington State House of Representatives, Nealey said he will serve out his coming two-year term, and then decide whether to continue in the legislature.

Nealey said there are a lot of things he and his wife, Jan, have been wanting to do, with no time to do them. "We plan to travel some, and spend more time with family and friends," he said.

Nealey said that the Nealey and Marinella law firm will continue to be operated by his law partners, Scott Marinella and Kimberly Boggs. "I have great associates who will continue to do a great job for our clients," he said.

Nealey and Marinella employs seven people, besides its attorneys, Nealey said. That includes employees of Dayton Title Co., which is owned by the firm.

Nealey grew up in Whitman County and graduated from Washington State University in 1969. After a two-year stint in the U.S. Army, he attended Gonzaga University Law School, graduating in 1974.

After working for a law firm in Spokane for about a year, Nealey joined longtime Dayton attorney Bert Woolson in his practice in January 1976. "Bert was getting ready to retire," Nealey said. "It was a good opportunity."

The firm became "Woolson and Nealey" for about four years, before Woolson retired in 1982. Nealey purchased the firm that year, along with Dayton Title Co., and practiced by himself for a few years.

Less than six years after arriving in Dayton, Nealey ran for the Columbia County Prosecuting Attorney position that had long been held by Woolson. Nealey won and held that position for 16 years.

In 1984, Nealey hired Scott Marinella as his law partner, shortly after Marinella graduated from Gonzaga Law School. The firm became Nealey and Marinella that year. Boggs joined the firm in 1994, after graduating from Seattle University Law School.

In the early 1980s, Nealey became a U.S. Bankruptcy Trustee, and held that position until last December. Nealey was first elected to the Washington House of Representatives in 2009, representing the state's 16th legislative district.

Nealey has been very active in the Dayton community. He served on the committee to restore the Columbia County Courthouse, starting in the mid-1980s. He also was a longtime board member for the Dayton Chamber of Commerce, and has been active in the Dayton Kiwanis Club since moving to Dayton.

Nealey said that he and Jan plan to continue to live in Dayton after retirement. They have a son, Keith, and a daughter, Kristin, and five grandchildren. Both families reside in the Seattle area.