Samuel L. Eplan Family Papers

Samuel Leon Eplan (1896-1982) was born in Atlanta, Georgia, the son of Leon and Rosa Eplan. Samuel's father, Leon, immigrated to the United States in 1880, arriving in Atlanta a year later. It was in Atlanta that the senior Eplan elevated himself from peddler to merchant and then to banker. He would later become a vice president of the Morris Plan Bank, an establishment which he helped to found. Active in the Jewish community, Leon Eplan helped to organize and operate the Jewish Educational Alliance, the Jewish Progressive Club and Ahavath Achim Congregation. Samuel Eplan began his educational career at Crew Street Elementary School, graduating in 1913. He later attended college and law school at Emory University, receiving his law degree in 1919. In July of that same year, Samuel Eplan announced his association with Owens Johnson in the practice of law. Mr. Eplan would continue to practice law in the City of Atlanta for the next 60 years. He was admitted to the Court of Appeals of Fulton County in 1919, the Supreme Court of Florida in 1925, the U.W. district Court in 1933, the Court of Appeals of Georgia in 1942 and the U.S. Court of Appeals in 1961. Samuel Eplan was as equally devoted to community service as he was to the practice of law, and actively participated in a number of clubs, organizations and causes that were a vital part of both the Jewish and general communities of Atlanta. He was an active member of the Don't Worry Club (a Jewish debating club), the Progressive Club, Congregation Ahavath Achim, Jewish War Veterans and Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity. In addition to these activities, Mr. Eplan was also recognized for his support of the Jewish Home, the Jewish Welfare Federation (Atlanta Jewish Federation) Emory University, and Jewish refugee relief following WW2, the State of Israel, and for his devotion to finding a cure for Multiple Sclerosis by sponsoring an annual golf tournament, which generated the largest source of funds for the Atlanta Chapter.