Walter G. Arnold Sr.

ARNOLD Walter G. Arnold, Sr., died at his home in Ponte Vedra Beach on March 2, 2009. He was considered by many to be one of the preeminent trial lawyers in Florida during a period covering almost fifty years. He was born in Duval County, Florida November 9, 1911 the son of Gershom C. Arnold and Lillie M. Drummond Arnold, of Duval County, Florida. Educated in the public school system of Duval County, Florida he graduated from Andrew Jackson High School in 1931 and was awarded the Duval High School Memorial Scholarship to attend the University of Florida by the Duval County School Board. He attended the University of Florida from 1931 to 1936 distinguishing himself by graduating Magna Cum Laude first in the law school class of June 1936 being elected as Chancellor of the Honor Court, the Hall of Fame and Florida Blue Key while also obtaining membership in both the Phi Alpha Delta, legal fraternity, and Phi Kappa Phi, honorary fraternity. After being admitted to the State of Florida Bar in June 1936, he became an associate with the law firm of Fant and Stanly and in 1938 became Assistant County Solicitor for Duval County, Florida remaining in that position until World War II when he entered the United States Naval Reserve shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. During the early part of World War II he served in Naval Intelligence in the Miami area and later, after requesting a combat reassignment, he was assigned to the newly commissioned LST 635 as executive officer in Seneca, Illinois and sailed to the south Pacific to join the Seventh Fleet. While rising to the rank of Lt. Commander he assumed command of another LST and participated in the invasions, among others, of Lingayen Gulf, Bataan, Corregidor, Mindanao, Zamboango, and Borneo before being discharged from active duty in January 1946. After the war he resumed his position as Assistant County Solicitor of Duval County and shortly thereafter entered into private practice of law in Jacksonville as an Associate of Julian E. Fant specializing in Criminal and Eminent Domain cases until he later formed his own firm known as Arnold, Stratford and Booth where he practiced with family members The Honorable Charles W. Arnold, The Honorable Harold C. Arnold, Mark M. Arnold, Esq. and Edward M. Booth, Sr., Esq. During his legal career he represented his clients in all types of civil matters ranging from eminent domain, family law and complex corporate matters. His client list reads as a virtual who's who of leaders of the community including Ed Ball, Don Tredinick, Herbert Peyton and James E. Davis. Although he was a leader in the field of civil litigation he was known as the ultimate lawyer in the field of criminal law. His brother-in-law Edward M. Booth, Sr., The Honorable Charles W. Arnold, Jr. and himself often teamed up to represent politicians, police officers, physicians and others charged with criminal offenses and seldom if ever had a jury bring back anything but a not guilty verdict. His membership in legal organization's included serving on the Florida Supreme Court Committee for Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal cases, Fellowship in the American College of Trial Lawyers, American Bar, Florida Bar and the Jacksonville Bar Associations. He was a member of the Gate Governors Club which includes Ponte Vedra Inn and Club, Deerwood and Epping Forest and a former member of the Friars, Seminole Club, River Club, San Jose Country Club, and the University Club. Aside from the practice of law he took an active interest in banking serving on the Board of Directors of the First Guaranty Bank & Trust Company of Jacksonville, Beaches Guaranty Bank and the Green Cove Springs National Bank. In addition, from 1949 until 2006 he has served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Zoe Gaudet Scholarship Fund, which assisted many young men in obtaining a college education and is now an endowed scholarship managed by the Community Foundation of Jacksonville. Walter G. Arnold was predeceased by his daughter, Therese' Ann Arnold Tremps. He is survived by his three sons, the Honorable Harold C. Arnold (Brenda), Walter G. Arnold, Jr. (Kathi) and Mark M. Arnold, four grandchildren, Walter G. Arnold III, Kathryn A.G. Arnold, Dylan Camp Arnold and Cole Eugene Arnold, one nephew the Honorable Charles W. Arnold, Jr. and two nieces Mrs. Miriam Lewis and Dr. Susan Arnold. Funeral services for Mr. Arnold will be held 2pm Wednesday, March 4, 2009 at the Graveside in Oaklawn cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to either Community Hospice of Northeast Florida or the Zoe Gaudet Endowed Scholarship Fund at the Community Foundation of Jacksonville. OAKLAWN CEMETERY & FUNERAL HOME, 4801 San Jose Blvd. is serving the family. Please Sign the Guestbook @ Jacksonville.com