Francis M. Bird Jr. ’59

Frank died Sept. 22, 2019. Born and raised in Atlanta, he attended Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Va., where he was on the football, wrestling, and track teams, was editor of the EHS Chronicle, and sang in the choir and glee club. At Princeton he majored in history, dined at Tiger Inn, belonged to Whig-Clio and the Undergraduate Schools Committee, and spent sophomore and junior years on the varsity track team. He roomed with L. Blau, Burns, Callaghan, Jacobs, Martin, and Tocher.

Fulfilling his Navy ROTC commitment, Frank served three years aboard the destroyer Harold J. Ellison out of Charleston, S.C. Upon release from active duty he married Irene Michael, entered law school at Emory University, and graduated with honors in December 1964. After a brief hiatus at the Jones, Bird & Howell law firm in Atlanta (formed by his father, “Buster” Bird, and golfing legend Bobby Jones), Frank earned an LL.M. degree at Harvard, returning to the Bird law firm in 1966. In 1970 he became a partner in the firm (now Alston & Bird), specializing in reorganizations and bankruptcy. He left in 1988 to form his own firm.

Frank was predeceased by his first wife, Irene; and his second wife, Joanne. He is survived by his daughter, Barbara Bird Turner; his son, Michael; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren, to all of whom we extend condolences.