Distinguished Lawyer Memorial Honoree

Maurice Boudreau

Red Boudreau was born at home and grew up on a small farm in Missouri. Proud to be of Irish descent, he was born on St. Patrick’s Day, in the town of Saint Patrick. Red’s baptism and education was overseen by Irish priests who served as pastor and teacher at the Shrine of Saint Patrick. During World War II Red served as a Navy aircraft carrier pilot assigned to squadrons that flew the Grumman Hellcat. His last shipboard assignment was on the carrier USS Valley Forge in 1948. He ended his active duty service as a flight instructor in Pensacola, Florida. While assigned to a carrier squadron in San Diego he met Patricia Ryan, a member of one of San Diego’s pioneer families, who was then working as a Navy civilian employee at the Naval District offices. After finishing his undergraduate education, he pursued a law degree at the University of Missouri School of Law. After graduation Patricia longed to return to her family, so they came to San Diego in 1954 where Red spent the rest of his life. Upon arriving in San Diego Red worked for Allstate Insurance Company while studying for the California Bar examination. After passing the bar, Red worked for W.J. Schall who was his law partner until Red’s untimely death at age 59 in 1983. During his years in practice he was pleased to work with several law partners of note including Hon. Leland Neilsen, Hon. Edward T. Butler, and Richard Gore. Red focused on personal injury cases where he almost always represented the plaintiff. Over the course of his practice he and Bill Schall achieved many notable verdicts, one was written up in Time magazine, as an example of large jury verdicts in personal injury cases. During his distinguished career, Red was an officer of the San Diego County Bar Association, president of Consumer Attorneys of San Diego, member of the San Diego Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, and member of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Concerned for the downtrodden, Red befriended Father Joe Carroll. When Father Joe became director of St. Vincent de Paul Center, Red volunteered and served as a founding member of the advisory board. Red’s example is remembered annually at the Red Boudreau Trial Lawyers Dinner. This event, now in its 23rd year, supports St. Vincent de Paul Village. He was survived by seven children and fifteen grandchildren. Patricia Boudreau continues her work as a volunteer with St. Vincent de Paul Village.