THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 12, 1996 TAG: 9605100187
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Close-Up
SOURCE: Janie Bryant
LENGTH: Long : 111 lines
PORTSMOUTH JUDGES didn't have to look far to find a good law-and-order type for this year's Liberty Bell Award.
The Portsmouth Bar Association presented this year's Law Day award to Thomas E. Neary, clerk of General District Court.
But the 57-year-old clerk's public service goes way beyond the boundaries of Portsmouth.
After the Army and college, Neary joined the Massachusetts State Police. Then he went global with his career, joining the Naval Investigative Service.
He served five years in Europe as a special agent during the Cold War.
``It was a terrific time to be involved,'' he says.
The Eastern Bloc countries were aggressively targeting those people with access to information who could be blackmailed or exploited. Agents like Neary were charged with looking for those problems that might make people easy targets.
Neary was deputy regional director for NIS operations in Norfolk when the Walker espionage case developed.
Beyond spies, Naval investigative agents confronted everything from terrorism to international drug trafficking. In Guam in the 1970s, Neary worked on a case that resulted in a record seizure of about $7 million worth of heroin.
It was exciting work, Neary says..
``Sure I miss it, but I'm a lot closer to 60 than 50,'' he said. ``We had our day in the sun, and it's been a good life.''
He was operations director for the Atlantic Area Command in Norfolk, overseeing operations all over the eastern part of the country, when he left the NIS.
A few years short of mandatory retirement, he was looking for a second career when he saw the General District Court position advertised.
He sent in his resume. So did more than 200 other applicants.
But Judge James A. Cales Jr. recalls that Neary's resume stood out.
Then there was the trick question Cales asked all of the interviewees: ``What 1919 New York Yankee was in the Hall of Fame?''
The other two judges thought he was crazy, Cales remembered.
``Most of the people we interviewed thought I was crazy.''
But Neary didn't. He called the Yankees, then called Cales back to tell them their answer: ``No one.''
That's because the Yankees assumed he meant Baseball Hall of Fame. The answer, Cales said, was George Halas, who is in the Football Hall of Fame.
But the judge said they were impressed that he tried to find the answer.
``He followed up.''
His NIS background didn't hurt either.
``We figured if he could deal with the admirals, he could deal with the judges,'' Cales quipped.
But one of the best qualities Neary brought to the job was the ability to get along with everybody, ``internally and externally,'' Cales adds.
In a letter of nomination, the three General District judges credited Neary with helping to unify law enforcement and court-related agencies.
Neary chairs a monthly meeting, initially designed to see how things could be tied together electronically. Now the meetings are used to problem-solve issues that impact the agencies.
His personality goes a long way in his success.
``He's outgoing,'' Cales says. ``He's a typical Irishman who's kissed the Blarney stone.
``But the most important thing is, he's smart. All of his personality aside, he has that ingrained intelligence.''
Name: Thomas E. Neary
Number of years in Portsmouth: Six years working in the city
Birthplace: Boston, Mass.
Birthdate: Sept. 23, 1938
Occupation: Clerk of Court
What job other than your own would you like? Naval attache to the Court of St. James
Marital status: Married to Theresa Neary for 35 years this December.
Children/grandchildren: Four children - Patricia, 32; Stephen, 30; Maureen, 28; and Ann, 24. Three grandchildren - Alexander, 12; Christopher, 10; and Michael, 1.
Fondest childhood memory: Attending Red Sox baseball games at Fenway Park with my father.
What song or book title best describes your life? ``Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy''
If you won the lottery, what's the very first thing you'd buy? A lakeside retreat in the White Mountains (New Hampshire).
If you could trade places for just one day with anyone in the world, who would it be and why? Ted Williams - play for the Red Sox during their heydays at Fenway Park.
Biggest accomplishment: Marrying my high school sweetheart and having a wonderful life with the greatest lady in the world.
Most embarrassing moment: Drove the wrong way down a one-way street in London to ask a police officer for directions.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? About 20 pounds
Perfect way to spend the day: Having the whole family home for dinner.
I can't resist: My wife's blueberry muffins.
Favorite Portsmouth restaurant: Cafe Europa
Favorite Portsmouth hangout: The District Court
Biggest problem facing Portsmouth: Drugs
If you had three wishes for Portsmouth, what would they be?
Safe streets.
Strong families.
Well-paying jobs.
Other than its small-town atmosphere, what do you like about living in Portsmouth? The cooperative spirit of all citizens and agencies dedicated to improving family life in their hometown. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
KEYWORDS: PROFILE by CNB