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{{Short description|American businessman and political activist (born 1946)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Excessive citations|date=July 2024}}

'''Ralph G. Neas''' (born May 17, 1946) is an American civil rights activist and executive. He is best known for directing a series of national campaigns to strengthen and protect civil rights laws during the [[Presidency of Ronald Reagan|Reagan]] and [[Presidency of George H. W. Bush|Bush presidencies]].<ref>Dorothy Height, "The Neas Years at the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights", 45th Anniversary Journal, May 3, 1995, inserted in the Congressional Record by, among others, Congressman Kweisi Mfume, former Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, E930, May 2, 1995</ref><ref>Special Otis Bowen Lecture on Comprehensive Health Care, Ralph Neas, March 26, 2009, the University of Notre Dame, inserted in the Congressional Record by Senator Edward Kennedy, May 5, 2009, S5122</ref><ref name="101st Senator for Civil Rights">Senator Edward Kennedy, Congressional Record, S5996, May 2, 1995, "Ralph Neas: the 101st Senator for Civil Rights"</ref><ref>Congressman Steny Hoyer, Congressional Record, E947, May 3, 1995, "Tribute to Ralph Neas and the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights"</ref><ref>Senator Carol Mosely Braun, Congressional Record, S6028, May 3, 1995, "The Neas Years"</ref><ref>Senator Bill Bradley, S6032, May 3, 1995, "Honoring Ralph Neas."</ref> He is also known for chairing the national coalition that helped defeat the [[Robert Bork Supreme Court nomination|U.S. Supreme Court nomination]] of [[Robert Bork]].<ref>Mark Gitenstein, "Matters of Principle: An Insider's Account of America's Rejection of the nomination of Robert Bork to the Supreme Court", 1992</ref><ref>Ethan Bronner, "Battle For Justice": How the Bork Nomination Shook America", 1989</ref><ref>Michael Pertchuk, "The People Rising: The Campaign Against the Bork Nomination", 1989</ref><ref name="101st Senator for Civil Rights"/>

Neas served as executive director of the [[Leadership Conference on Civil Rights]];<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/1995/05/02/senate-section/article/S5996-4 |title=Congressional Record Senate Articles |website=www.congress.gov |access-date=December 6, 2016}}</ref> president and CEO of [[People For the American Way]] (PFAW)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Statement of Ralph G. Neas President, People For the American Way on Judicial Nominations|url=https://www.pfaw.org/press-releases/statement-of-ralph-g-neas-president-people-for-the-american-way-on-judicial-nominations/|access-date=2020-09-26|website=People For the American Way|date=July 18, 2002 |language=en-US}}</ref> and the PFAW Foundation; president and CEO of the [[National Coalition on Health Care]];<ref>{{Cite web|title=Search for "ralph neas"|url=https://nchc.org/search/ralph+neas/|access-date=2020-09-26|website=NCHC|language=en-US}}</ref> and president and CEO of the [[Generic Pharmaceutical Association]] (GPhA).<ref name="Longtime Liberal Advocate">{{cite news |author=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/07/business/ralph-g-neas-to-lead-the-generic-pharmaceutical-association.html |title=Longtime Liberal Advocate to Lead Generic Drug Group |newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 7, 2011 |access-date=January 24, 2013}}</ref> He served for eight years as chief legislative assistant to Republican Senators [[Edward Brooke]] of Massachusetts and [[David Durenberger]] of Minnesota. He remained a member of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] until October 1996.<ref>Ronald Brownstein, The Second Civil War, 2007</ref>

==Early life and education==
Neas was born on May 17, 1946, in [[Brookline, Massachusetts]]. In 1955, the Neas family moved from New England to [[St. Charles, Illinois]]. There, Neas' father, Ralph Sr., began a career as a salesman for the [[American Brass Company]]. Neas quit public high school and attended [[Marmion Military Academy]] (Aurora, Illinois), a private Benedictine military school to set himself up for success in attending university.<ref name=":0">The Hill Rag Newspaper, April, 1983, article by Keith Fagon, "Ralph Neas", inserted in the Congressional Record by Senator Edward Kennedy, S9702-S9706, April 26, 1983.</ref>

Neas states that major influences before he left for college and law school were his parents, the teachings of Vatican II, his love for baseball, the civil rights movement, and the lessons he learned at Marmion.<ref>Neas Lecture at the University of Notre Dame, "Professional Life: Vocation and Commitment", October 24, 1983, at a conference convened by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops</ref><ref>Bishop's Committee on the Laity Secretariat, "Work and Faith in Society: Catholic Perspectives": Presentations from a Laity Consultation (Office of Public Services, U.S. Catholic Conference, 1984-Church and the World-40 pages)</ref><ref>LCCR 45th Anniversary Dinner honoring Neas, March 3, 1995, biographical article in the dinner journal</ref>

Neas graduated from [[Marmion Military Academy]] in 1964. He earned a [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] with honors from the [[University of Notre Dame]] in 1968, and a [[Juris Doctor|J.D.]] from the [[University of Chicago Law School]] in 1971.<ref name=gpa-bio>{{cite web|url=http://www.gphaonline.org/media/wysiwyg/PDF/Bios/RGN_Bio_Website_2013.pdf|title=Ralph G. Neas Bio|publisher=Generic Pharmaceutical Association|date=2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131127035226/http://www.gphaonline.org/media/wysiwyg/PDF/Bios/RGN_Bio_Website_2013.pdf|archive-date=2013-11-27}}</ref>

==Career==
===U.S. Senate===
Neas was both active duty and reserve in the [[United States Army]] (1968–1976). In late 1971, he joined the [[Congressional Research Service]]'s American Law Division at the [[Library of Congress]] as a legislative attorney on civil rights. In January 1973, he was hired as a legislative assistant to Republican Senator Edward W. Brooke of Massachusetts, eventually becoming the Senator's chief legislative assistant. He stayed with Senator Brooke until his defeat in 1978, at which time he accepted a job as chief legislative assistant to Republican Senator David Durenberger of Minnesota.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/1995/5/3/senate-section/article/S6028-1 |title=Congressional Record Senate Articles |website=www.congress.gov |access-date=December 9, 2016}}</ref>

Neas' work in the U.S. Senate spanned eight years. During that time, he focused primarily on civil rights, including the 1975 extension and expansion of the [[Voting Rights Act of 1965]], and the protection of Title IX, reproduction rights, and Title VI and Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Neas also worked on the Watergate scandal, health care, and ethics reform.<ref>Neas, "Reflections on the Autobiography of Edward W. Brook."</ref> While working for Senator Durenberger in 1979–1980, he conceived and drafted the "Women's Economic Equity Act," parts of which were enacted during the Reagan and Bush Administrations.<ref>For descriptions of Neas' role in the Economic Equity Act, see: * * --''Savvy Magazine'', February, 1983, Lavinia Edmunds and Judith Patterson, "A Hard Act to Follow: A Coalition Uses ERA Lessons to Fight for Passage of the Complex Economic Equity Act"
- Senator David Durenberger email to Ralph Neas, 2016
- Washington ''Post'', March 16, 1983, Judy Mann, "Equal Benefits"
- Glamour Magazine, August 1982, Sarah Weddington, "Good Guys in Washington"
- ''Harvard Journal of Law and Gender'', 2007, Patricia Seith, "Congressional Power to Effect Sex Equity". P 17, Footnote 67.</ref>

===Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR)===
From 1981 through 1995, Neas served as executive director of the nonpartisan [[Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights|Leadership Conference on Civil Rights]] (LCCR), the legislative arm of the civil rights movement.<ref>Dorothy Height, "The Neas years at the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights," LCCR 45th Anniversary Journal, May 3, 1995.</ref> Neas coordinated successful national campaigns that led to the Civil Rights Act of 1991;<ref>{{Cite news |last=Holmes |first=Steven A. |date=1991-12-02 |title=Washington at Work; Lobbyist on Civil Rights Wins Despite Hostility |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/02/us/washington-at-work-lobbyist-on-civil-rights-wins-despite-hostility.html |access-date=2023-01-31 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> the Americans with Disabilities Act;<ref>Lennard Davis, Enabling Acts: The Hidden Story of How the Americans with Disability Act Gave the Largest US Minority Its Rights"</ref><ref>"The Making of the ADA", Disability Rights Defense and Education Fund, Parts One and Three, Summer, 2015</ref><ref>New York Times, August 8, 1989, Nathaniel Nash, "Bush and Senate Leaders Support Sweeping Protections for Disabled"</ref> the Civil Rights Restoration Act;<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/03/17/us/reagan-vetoes-bill-that-would-widen-federal-rights-law.html|title=Reagan Vetoes Bill That Would Widen Federal Rights Law|date=1988-03-17|last=Johnson|first=Julie|page=1|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>National Women's Political Caucus, Women's Political Times, October, 1984, "Why the Defeat?"</ref><ref>Ms. Gazette, Lavinia Edmunds, October, 1984, Welding a Civil Rights Coalition"</ref><ref>''The New York Times'', January 6, 1985, [https://www.nytimes.com/1985/01/06/us/reagan-backs-bill-to-reverse-effects-of-ruling-in-bias-case.html "Reagan Backs Bid to Reverse Effects of Ruling in Bias Case"]</ref> the Fair Housing Act Amendments of 1988;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Education for the 21st Century|url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?4287-1/education-21st-century |access-date=2022-10-06 |website=www.c-span.org}}</ref> the Japanese American Civil Liberties Act;<ref>Japanese American Citizens League honors Neas for "outstanding Support to Redress for Americans of Japanese ancestry". August 7, 1988</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.protectcivilrights.org/pdf/voting-record/lccr-voting-record-100th-congress.pdf|title=LCCR Voting Record, 100th Congress}}{{dead link|date=May 2024}}</ref> the preservation of the Executive Order on Affirmative Action (1985–1986 and 1995–1996);<ref>The Wall Street Journal, November, 1985, JoAnn Lublin, "Veteran Political Operator Arranges Campaign to Save Anti-Bias Rules for Federal Contractors"</ref><ref>''The New York Times'', August 17, 1987, Lena Williams, "Administrator of Many Hats"</ref> and the 1982 Voting Right Act Extension.<ref>. Michael Pertshuck, Giant Killers, 1986 (chapter on the 1981-1982 battle to renew and strengthen the Voting Rights Act of 1965</ref><ref>Congressional Quarterly, September 17, 1983, Nadine Cohotas, "Group Reflects Diverse Rights Community"</ref><ref>New Republic, September 6, 1982, Bart Gellman, "The New Old Movement"</ref> Final passage on all these laws averaged 85% in both the House of Representatives and the Senate; in addition, another 15 Leadership Conference on Civil Rights legislative priorities were enacted into law in the 1981–1995 period.<ref>Civil Rights Monitor, [http://www.civilrights.org/monitor/vol8_no1/art/10.html Leadership Conference Education Fund]</ref><ref>Dorothy Height article, May 3, 1995, 45th Annual LCCR Dinner Journal article, "The Neas Years".</ref><ref>Additional LCCR legislative priorities enacted into law between 1981 and 1995 included the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Motor Voter Act (The National Voter Registration Act of 1993), the Voting Accessibility for Disabled and Senior Citizens Act, the Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Act, The Voting Rights Language Assistance Act of 1992, key provisions of the Economic Equity Act, the Hate Crimes Statistics Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Claims Assistance Act, the 1989 Minimum Wage Increase, three disability laws which overturned Supreme Court decisions and reinstated the coverage of anti-discrimination provisions to all airlines, the right to sue states for violations of Section 504, and the right of parents to recover attorney fees under the Education for Handicapped Children's Act (now called IDEA), the Gender Equity in Education Act, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1994 (including Chapter One reform), and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.</ref>

Neas pointed out during July 11, 1996, testimony before the House Democratic Caucus, Committee on Organization Study and Review regarding Bipartisan Cooperation in Congress, "the average final passage vote on these laws was 85%" in both the House and Senate.

William T. Taylor, former General Counsel and Staff Director of the United States Commission on Civil Rights, and then an LCCR executive committee member wrote that Neas "seemed an unlikely choice [because] he was a white male Catholic Republican who had gone to Notre Dame, where he devoted himself to becoming an officer in the ROTC."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Taylor |first=William |title=The Passion of My Times: An Advocate's Fifty-Year Journey in the Civil Rights Movement |year=2004 |pages=133}}</ref>

He was chair of the Block Bork Coalition in 1987.<ref>See Ethan Bronner, ''Battle for Justice: How the Bork Nomination Shook America'', and ''People Rising''</ref><ref>Washington Post, Lois Romano, September 15, 1987, "Leading the Charge on Bork"</ref><ref>New York Times, Lena Williams, August 16, 1987, [https://www.nytimes.com/1987/08/17/us/washington-talk-leadership-conference-civil-rights-administrator-many-hats.html "Administrator of Many Hats"]</ref><ref>Neas also played a leadership role in the unsuccessful effort to defeat the Supreme Court nomination of Clarence Thomas: [https://www.c-span.org/video/?20201-1/opposition-judge-thomas-nomination Opposition to Judge Thomas Nomination]; {{cite web|url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?22064-//thomas-confirmation|title=Thomas Confirmation|publisher=C-Span}}; [https://www.nytimes.com/1991/08/08/us/another-rights-group-says-no-to-thomas.html Another Rights Group Says No to Thomas]</ref>

===Political career===

In 1998, Neas ran against incumbent Republican Representative [[Connie Morella]] in [[Maryland's 8th Congressional District]], composed primarily of the suburban areas just northwest of Washington, DC. Morella defeated Neas 60% to 40%.<ref>D.C. Political Report, [http://www.dcpoliticalreport.com/members/1998/MD98.htm 1998 Maryland Congressional and Statewide Results] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705174732/http://dcpoliticalreport.com/members/1998/MD98.htm |date=July 5, 2016 }} Accessed July 13, 2017</ref>

===People For the American Way===
In late 1999, Neas was named the President and CEO of People For the American Way and People For the American Way Foundation.<ref>National Journal, February 19, 2000, Shawn Zeller, "Ready to Rumble with the Right"</ref> For eight years, Neas helped lead national efforts to preserve an independent and fair judiciary;<ref>Wall Street Journal, Bob Davis and Robert Greenberger, "Two Old Foes Plot Tactics in Battles Over Judgeships"</ref><ref>CBS "Face the Nation", July 3, 2005, the Resignation of Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor"</ref><ref>New York Times, July 3, 2005, David E. Rosenbaum and Lynette Clemetson, [https://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/03/politicsspecial1/in-battle-to-confirm-a-new-justice-both-sides-get.html "In Fight to Confirm New Justice, Two Field Generals Rally Their Troops Again"]</ref><ref>Washington Post, February 2, 2006, Lois Romano and Juliet Eiperin, "The Alito Confirmation Battle"</ref><ref>See also: [https://.c-span.org/video/?188560-1/roberts-supreme-court-nomination Roberts Supreme Court Nomination]; [https://www.c-span.org/video/?190538-3/supreme-court-watch Supreme Court Watch]; [https://www.c-span.org/video/?191766-2/john-roberts-supreme-court-nomination John Roberts Supreme Court Nomination]; [https://www.c-span.org/video/?186098-1/filbuster-ad-campaign=\,l Filbuster Ad Campaign]</ref> to protect civil rights and civil liberties;<ref>Senate Government Affairs Committee, May 1, 2001, Testimony on Election Reform</ref><ref>Congressional hearing on US Elections, December 8, 2004, "Voting Irregularities in Ohio"</ref><ref>House Judiciary Committee, March 7, 2007, "Protecting the Right to Vote: Election Deception and Irregularities in Recent Federal Elections"</ref><ref>Ralph Neas and Julian Bond, Pele For the American Way Foundation-NAACP Report: "The Long Shadow of Jim Crow"</ref> and to defend and reform public schools in the United States.<ref name="pftawpr">{{Cite web |title=Education Strategies|url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?166829-1/education-strategies |access-date=2022-10-06 |website=www.c-span.org}}</ref>

In addition, Neas helped put together civic engagement partnerships to recruit and manage 25,000 volunteers in 2004 for the non-partisan and nationally recognized Election Protection program<ref>Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, [https://www.civilrights.org/voting-rights/election-reform/election-protection-project-makes-debut.htm "Election Protection Makes Debut"]{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>[https://www.c-span.org/video/?183231-1/voter-intimidation-supression Voter Intimidation Supression]</ref> (to help ensure every vote counts), to direct non-partisan programs that registered 525,000 African and Latino voters in three years, and to establish youth leadership development programs across the country (Young People For and Young Elected Officials).<ref name=pftawpr/>

===National Coalition on Health Care (NCHC)===
In late 2007, Neas became active in the health care reform movement, becoming senior advisor to the president of the [[National Coalition on Health Care]] (NCHC), a non-partisan coalition of more than 80 national organizations (representing consumer groups, medical societies, civil rights groups, small and large businesses, civil right groups, pension funds, disability senior citizens unions and senior citizen and good government organizations).<ref>NCHC 2008-2009 Annual Report</ref> In February 2009, Neas became the CEO of NCHC to help lead the final push for the Affordable Care Act, focusing on system-wide reform, quality health care, cost containment, and the need for bipartisanship.<ref>New York Times, February, 2009, Jim Rutenberg, "Liberal Groups Are Flexing New Muscles in Lobby Wars"</ref><ref>Special Otis Bowen Lecture, March 26, 2009, University of Notre Dame, inserted in the Congressional Record by Senator Edward Kennedy, May 5, 2009</ref><ref>Roll Call, June 8, 2009, with Dr. Henry Simmons, "National Plan Must be Product of Capitol Bipartisanship"</ref><ref>Roll Call, December 7, 2009, with Dr. Henry Simmons, "Congress, Tackle Systemwide Cost in Health Reform"</ref><ref>CBS Sunday Morning, March 23, 2010, "Passage of the Affordable Care Act"</ref><ref>Politico, May 27, 2011, "America's Internal Bleeding"</ref> Neas also worked closely with the generic pharmaceutical industry to convey the importance of promoting generics as a critical cost saving and pro-consumer strategy to ensure a sustainable health care system.<ref>NCHC Letter to Senator Edward Kennedy and Senator [[Mike Enzi]], opposing 12 year exclusivity for biologics, July 8, 2009.</ref>

===Generic Pharmaceutical Association===
On September 12, 2011, Neas became president and CEO of the [[Generic Pharmaceutical Association]] (GPhA), which represents the manufacturers and distributors of finished generic pharmaceuticals.<ref>New York Times, September 6, 2011, Reed Abelson, "Neas to Lead GPhA"</ref><ref>National Journal, September 11, 2011, Mike Magner, "Back at the Front"</ref>

Neas and GPhA played a leadership role in protecting [[Hatch-Waxman Act|the Hatch-Waxman Act]];<ref>Biopharma Dive, February 5, 2015, Nicole Gray, "Passing the Torch: Ralph Neas' Tenure at GPhA"</ref><ref>GPhA 2012 Annual Report</ref> enacting the Generic Drug User Fees Act;<ref>Journal of Generic Medicines, Summer, 2012, "A Global Future for Biosimilars"</ref><ref>San Jose Mercury News, Neas op-ed</ref> promoting and defending biosimilars at the national and state levels;<ref>October 4, 2013, "Biosimilars: Jerry Brown Should Veto Bill that Protects Big Biotech Profits"</ref><ref>New York Times, Andrew Pollack, October 13, 2013, "Governor Brown of Cal. Vetoes Biotech Drug Bill"</ref> and making sure that international trade agreements did not favor manufacturers of brand medicines and biologics.<ref>The Hill, January 28, 2015, "Trans Pacific Partnership: Ambitious Enough?"</ref><ref>Huffington Post, July 29, 2015, Neas op-ed with Nancy Leamond, AARP, "TPP Threatens Access to Affordable Medicine for People Around the World"</ref><ref>Statement of Ralph G. Neas, opposing pharmaceutical exclusivity provisions of the TPP, press conference with Doctors Without Borders, AARP, AFL-CIO, and Oxfam, December 17, 2015</ref><ref>2015 GPhA Annual Report</ref>

During Neas' tenure, GPhA also launched the Biosimilars Council.<ref>GPhA 2015 Annual Report</ref>

==Teaching==
Neas has taught law school and undergraduate courses on the legislative process, the [[Constitution of the United States|United States Constitution]], public policy, and the media.  These courses have been offered at, among other places:
* the [[University of Chicago Law School]] "Lecturer in the Law"<ref>[https://chicagounbound.uchicago.edu/cgi? ''The Law School Record''], Volume 40, page 33, Fall, 1994</ref>
* the [[Georgetown University Law Center]],
* [[Harvard Kennedy School]], Institute of Politics<ref>[https://IOP.harvard.edu/fellows/ralph-neas Fellows: Ralph Neas], Harvard University</ref>
* [[University of Southern California]], Fellow at the [[USC Center for the Political Future]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ralph G. Neas |url=https://live-usc-dornsife.pantheonsite.io/center-for-political-future/ralph-g-neas/ |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=USC Center for the Political Future |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Author==
Neas is a frequent contributor to the [[Huffington Post]]. His published works include more than fifty articles, op-eds, and commentaries in national and regional media outlets.

==Media appearances==
Neas has been frequently interviewed in the print and electronic media, including CBS's Face the Nation, ABC's Nightline, CBS's Sunday Morning, NBC's Today Show, ABC's This Week, [[PBS NewsHour]], the nightly news shows of ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, and Fox; National Public Radio; and national, regional, and local newspapers.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gphaonline.org|url=https://www.gphaonline.org/media/wysiwyg/pdf/bios/rgn_bio_website_2013pdf|access-date=2020-12-22|website=www.gphaonline.org}}</ref>

Between 1979 and 2016, both the New York Times<ref>New York Times Index, [https://www.nytimes.com/ref/membercenter/nytarchive.html Archive]</ref> and the Washington Post<ref>Washington Post Index</ref> cited Neas several hundred times. The Wall Street editorial pages have discussed Neas in more than 45 editorials and op-eds.<ref>Wall Street Journal Index</ref>

Neas has made more than 50 appearances on C-SPAN.<ref>[https://www.c-span.org/person/?/ralphneas C-Span Archives]</ref> In 2009, along with Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Ver) and [[Arlen Specter]] (R and then D-Pa), and conservative activist Manny Miranda<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Manny_Miranda |title=Manny Miranda|website=www.sourcewatch.org |access-date=December 10, 2016}}</ref> Neas was the subject of a film documentary entitled ''Advise and Dissent'';<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.snagfilms.com/films/title/advise_and_dissent |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120822104640/http://www.snagfilms.com/films/title/advise_and_dissent |url-status=usurped |archive-date=August 22, 2012 |title=Advise and Dissent |website=www.snagfilms.com |access-date=December 10, 2016}}</ref> In 2014–2016, Neas was featured in a play by Anthony Giardina, "City of Conversation", at the Lincoln Center in New York, the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C, and in theaters in other parts of the United States.<ref>Anthony Giardina, "The City of Conversation", Samuel French Acting Edition, 2014</ref>

==Awards==
{{BLP unreferenced section|date=December 2016}}
* Hubert H. Humphrey Civil Rights Award from LCCR;<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.civilrights.org/dinner/1995/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024123133/http://www.civilrights.org/dinner/1995/ |archive-date=October 24, 2008 |title=1995 Humphrey Award Recipients - Leadership Conference on Civil Rights}}</ref>
* Benjamin Hooks "Keeper of the Flame" award from the [[National Association for the Advancement of Colored People]] ([[NAACP]]), the 91st Annual Convention, Baltimore, Maryland, July 10, 2000;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=12006 |title=Our Campaigns - Candidate - Ralph G. Neas |website=www.ourcampaigns.com |access-date=December 12, 2016}}</ref>
* Public Service Achievement Award from [[Common Cause]]
* Edward M. Kennedy Lifetime Achievement Award from the [[Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund]]—November 10, 1994;
* National Good Guy Award" from the [[National Women's Political Caucus]];<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?125743-1/good-guys-awards-dinner |title=Good Guy Award Dinner |website=www.c-span.org |access-date=December 13, 2016}}</ref>
* "Isaiah Award for the Pursuit of Justice" from the [[American Jewish Committee]], Washington D.C. Chapter, October 5, 1994;
* "Flag Bearer Award" from [[PFLAG]] (formerly known as Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), 1995;<ref>''Leadership Conference 45th Anniversary Journal''</ref><ref>Neas biography</ref>
* Edison Uno Memorial Civil Rights Award from the [[Japanese American Citizens League]]; 31st JACL Biennial Convention, San Diego, California, 1990;
* University of Chicago Alumni Public Service Citation;<ref>{{cite web| url = https://alumniandfriends.uchicago.edu/alumni-association/alumni-awards/past-award-winners |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150814053815/https://alumniandfriends.uchicago.edu/alumni-association/alumni-awards/past-award-winners |archive-date=August 14, 2015 |title=Past Award Winners {{!}} Alumni Association: Alumni, Parents, Families & Friends}}</ref>
* "Citizen of the Year" award from the Guillian-Barre Syndrome Foundation International;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://library.gwu.edu/ead/ms2287.xml|title=Guide to the William L. Taylor papers, 1954-2009|publisher=The George Washington University|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141213130118/https://library.gwu.edu/ead/ms2287.xml|archive-date=2014-12-13}}</ref><ref name=gpa-bio/>
* The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law for efforts to enact the Civil Rights Act of 1991, January 15, 1992;
* "The Americans with Disabilities Act Award" from the Task Force on the Rights of the Empowerment of Americans with Disabilities for "historic leadership regarding the enactment of the world's first comprehensive civil rights law for people with disabilities" October 12, 1990;
* Marmion Military Academy's "Centurion" Alumni Achievement Award, March 13, 1991, North Aurora, Illinois;
* Civil Rights Leadership Award from the Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism at the Embassy of Israel, January, 1988;
* Rosa Parks Award" by the American Association for Affirmative Action, April, 1996, AAAA 22nd Annual Conference, Philadelphia, Pa.;
* The National Bicentennial Medal received from American Bicentennial Administration Administrator John Warner (future United States Senator), 1976.  Neas was chief legislative assistant to ABA Board Co-chairman Senator Edward W. Brooke and Senate liaison to the American Bicentennial Administration);
* "President's Award for Outstanding Service", Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, September, 2007.
* Received the "Eagle Fly Free Award" from the Institute for the Advancement of Multicultural and Minority Medicine (along with Senator Arlen Specter, Congresswoman [[Debbie Wasserman Schultz]], and former world boxing champion Sugar Ray Leonard), September 29, 2009, Institute's Awards Benefit Gala, Washington, D.C.
* Received the "Star for Children" Award from the Children's Charities Foundation, Washington, D.C., December, 2015

Neas was named in 2004 one of [[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] magazine's "Best Stewards of the Environment."
In May 2008, the national [[Legal Times]] designated Neas one of the 30 "Champions of the Law" over the past three decades.

In addition, Neas was named one of the nation's most influential advocates by the ''National Journal'' ("150 Americans Who Make a Difference", June, 1986), ''Regardie's Magazine'' (1990), and ''U.S. News & World Report'' ("The New American Establishment", February 8, 1988). On October 9, 1987, Neas was named ABC World News' "Person of the Week" for his leadership role opposing the Robert Bork Supreme Court nomination<ref>{{Cite web|title=October 1987 Broadcast Index|url=https://tvnews.vanderbilt.edu/siteindex/1987-10|access-date=2020-09-26|website=tvnews.vanderbilt.edu}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Neas is a baseball fan. As a child, his goal was to play third base for the Boston Red Sox.<ref name=":0" />

In early 1979, Neas received [[last rites]] from a Roman Catholic priest after the onset of near-total paralysis which was caused by [[Guillain–Barré syndrome]] (also known as "French Polio.")<ref>Washington ''Post'', January 11, 2016, "Battle with Guillain Barre Syndrome"</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watchPv=uL9EffDyiAc GBS Foundation 35th Anniversary video]</ref> After nearly five months in the hospital, much of it on a respirator in the intensive care unit, he recovered, and co-founded the Guillain Barre Syndrome Foundation, whose primary focus is on families affected by the disease.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-05-05|title=Estelle Benson, Founder, Wins PSI's President's Award|url=https://www.gbs-cidp.org/estelle-benson-founder-wins-psis-presidents-award/|access-date=2020-09-26|website=GBS/CIDP Foundation International|language=en-US}}</ref>

Neas married Katherine Beh in 1988, and their daughter Maria was born in 1999.

==References==
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==External links==
* {{C-SPAN}}
* [https://archive.today/20040929063401/http://www.pww.org/article/view/4467/1/191/ ''A question of fairness: rights for gay couples''], Ralph G. Neas, [[People's Weekly World]], 11/26/03

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Neas, Ralph}}
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:Employees of the United States Senate]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Maryland Democrats]]
[[Category:People for the American Way people]]
[[Category:Activists from Brookline, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Brookline, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:University of Chicago Law School alumni]]
[[Category:University of Notre Dame alumni]]