Johnston Allison Hord mourns the loss of beloved partner Morry Johnston who passed away on Saturday, October 4, at the age of 88.
A Charlotte native, Morry graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Law, where he was a member of the Order of the Coif and served on the Board of Editors and as Business Manager of the North Carolina Law Review.
After serving in the Chief Counsel’s Office of the Internal Revenue Service, Morry returned to his hometown of Charlotte in 1966 to practice law with Bob Lassiter and Tommy Miller at the firm founded by Claude Cochran in 1912. Together, they envisioned a firm that would serve the Charlotte community by offering large firm expertise with the personal attention clients truly deserve.
Morry became a name partner in 1997, and the firm officially became known as Johnston Allison Hord. As Charlotte grew from a city of 300,000 to a thriving metropolitan region of more than 2.5 million, Morry guided the firm’s growth from four attorneys to nearly sixty and established it as a cornerstone of the Charlotte legal and business community.
Morry lived by the mantra, “Find any excuse to get in front of a client.” Through this philosophy of service and connection, he became a trusted advisor to many of North Carolina’s most prominent privately held organizations. Even in retirement, Morry remained an ever-present heartbeat of the firm, offering counsel, warmth, and guidance to attorneys and staff.
Morry’s impact extended well beyond the walls of the firm. He was deeply committed to community service, contributing to organizations such as Foundation For The Carolinas and UMAR Services, Inc., and Charlotte Country Club.
Outside of his professional and philanthropic endeavors, Morry treasured time with his wife, Ginny, and their family. He lived by his favorite maxim, “Life is not a spectator sport,” embracing it fully through his love of golf, hunting, fishing, and even enduro motorcycle racing.
Morry was a pillar of Johnston Allison Hord, the Charlotte legal community, and the city he loved. His loss is deeply felt.
Our profound sympathies go to Ginny, the Johnston family, and all whose lives were touched by Morry’s wisdom, kindness, and example.
Please note that the above JAH article does not constitute legal advice nor does it create an attorney-client relationship. Should you be in need of legal services regarding a particular matter, please reach out directly to one of our attorneys. Click here for our full website disclaimer.