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SALISBURY HISTORYThe inscription on the base reads:Norman Neal Pike ‘37In grateful appreciation of his manifold contributions to theLaw School and his herculean societal efforts andachievements which are a source of inspiration for all of us.Dean and Mrs. William Schwartz,The Law School Community. December 11, 1982.Neal’s parents had nine children and were in no positionto help with the expense of a college education. Unlike today,there were no government loans or help from the state. Nealput himself through school earning money by caning chairs,creating rush and log cabin seating, selling eggs in the winter,and during the summer months by washing out fishingboats. He also dug clams at Seabrook Beach, enabling him tosave enough to attend Boston University.When Neal took his bar exam, he was in the top twentyout of more than 600 candidates. He was admitted to theFederal Bar to practice law in the United States DistrictCourt for the district of Massachusetts. He was the firstblind person to be admitted to practice before the Bar of theU.S. Supreme Court.In 1953 Neal became the first blind man to be presidentof the Salisbury Lions Club. He was also the first blind manin Massachusetts to become a member of the Masonic Lodgewhen he joined St. Marks Lodge in Newburyport.He is a member of the East Parish Methodist Church, atrustee, and also on the finance committee. Neal is a Memberof the Men’s Club and past president of the SalisburyCable Club. He was the first blind man to vote in Salisburyand the first blind man to hold office in town when he wasappointed to the school committee in 1937.He was the only blind lawyer to practice law alone, withouta sighted partner. He prepared and tried his own cases.Neal practiced law for forty five years, and in that time20