William Kelly Turner Huggett

HUGGETT, WILLIAM KELLY TURNER, a giant of a man who fought and won almost every battle, has lost the biggest battle of all, his life. Bill Huggett, beloved father, husband, Marine, lawyer, author, brother, uncle, neighbor and friend died unexpectedly Aug. 31, 2004 at Mount Sinai Hospital. He was ageless. He is irreplaceable. Bill, or "Huggett" as so many family and friends knew him, was a renowned maritime attorney. He graduated from Emory University with a double major in history and political science and was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. After graduation, Huggett enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp. to serve his country. Transferring to reserve status, he then went to the University of Florida Law School. As the country's involvement in Vietnam became more intense, Huggett reenlisted in the Marine Corp. in order to serve in Vietnam and gain a personal understanding of what was occurring there. He was awarded the bronze star for "heroic achievement" as a 2nd Lt. After serving in Vietnam, he took time off before starting his legal career to write the Putnam award winning novel Body Count based on his experience of that war. Of all his accomplishments, he was proudest of his twin sons, Jackson Kelly Huggett and John Turner Huggett, who turned 10 on August 12. It is not possible for a better or more involved Dad to exist. He has been a "pied piper" to all the neighborhood children and school kids, leading them on campouts, sports, and scouting activities. Huggett was an active member on the board at St. Stephen's Episcopal Day School, working to make a difference in the quality of education for all the children there. He will be greatly missed by them all. He will be one mighty guardian angel to all of us. Jackson and Turner are truly his soldiers now and will carry his good name. Huggett was an active member of his profession: A member of the American Bar Assoc. (Admiralty and Maritime law committee), Florida Bar Assoc. (Admiralty Law Committee), the Academy of Fla. Trial Lawyers (Legislative Committee), the Dade County Bar Assoc., and an elected member of the Assoc. of Trial Lawyers of America where he served on the leaders forum. He was also a past President of the Young Lawyers Assoc. and caused quite a stir when he invited Abbey Hoffman to speak back in the 70's. He still has Abbey's knitted red, white and blue star spangled scarf as a souvenir. Huggett definitely believed in an open forum. As a lawyer, he worked tirelessly for the rights of the indigent and residents of third world countries. Huggett was awarded the Florida Bar Presidents Pro Bono Service Award in 1991 and the annual award for Outstanding Pro Bono Service in 1990 from the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers. The quote on the award is by Robert F. Kennedy and it reads: "Each time a person stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others... he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance." He considered himself a modern day Robin Hood and his favorite bedtime stories to his children were all elaborate Robin Hood adventures that took place all around the globe. Huggett is predeceased by his father John P. Turner (a zoology professor who died when Huggett was 13 months old), his mother Lois Clare Kelly Turner Huggett (who earned a Masters Degree in Physics from VPI long before that was heard of for women and was a lifelong educator), and his adoptive father Clayton McKenna Huggett (about whom he took great pride in saying "he really is a rocket scientist"). He was a devoted son who sent his parents on an all expense paid vacation when he won his first big settlement in the early 70s and assisted them in their later years. All of them gave him his zest for life and fun! Huggett's successes over the years enabled him to provide a wonderful life for his beloved sons and wife, Jacqueline Ann Norris. They met through friends at Fantasy Fest in Key West and were married in a memorable ceremony at the Biltmore Hotel on December 23, 1987, (Huggett went to great lengths to have fireworks on the Biltmore Golf Course). This Halloween, they would have been together for 20 years. Together they shared many happy times, events and laughter. Huggett loved a great party and he and Jacqui threw numerous "before kids" parties, Christmas parties, volleyball games, and later children's and neighborhood parties, and family gatherings. They hosted events for St. Stephen's school, friends' special occasions, fund raisers for political candidates, as well as parties for no particular reason. In addition to his lifelong love of Miami, Huggett was also at home in northern New Mexico. He first visited that area as an Eagle Scout at the Philmont Scout Ranch. He would say he loved it because it is the exact opposite of Miami, which is low, wet, and full of people. Taos is high, dry and does not have many people. After dear friend and ski patrol nurse Pam Garrison introduced him to skiing at Taos Ski Valley in the 70s, he bought property and considered Taos, New Mexico, his second home. A legacy of land, Taos friendships, camping, hiking, skiing and appreciation of the "great outdoors" is something he will leave with Jacqui and his sons. Huggett is survived by his wife, Jacqueline Ann Norris; his two sons, Jackson Kelly Huggett and John Turner Huggett; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Thomas and Gail Huggett of Katy Texas and James and Connie Huggett of Brookline New Hampshire; and two nieces and a nephew, Kelly Christina Norris, Jamie Ann Norris, and Jeffrey Christian Norris. He also has numerous cousins, nieces and nephews who will all miss him. Friend or foe, no one can think of William Turner Huggett without strong emotions, mixed with laughter and a smile. Those feelings of love and laughter will carry his family through this time. Please do not send flowers. We love them but Huggett planted them all around our beautiful home. In lieu of flowers, the Huggett family requests donations be made payable to any of 3 causes that were most important to his heart. Donations may be sent to: Kerry/Edwards Victory Fund 2004 66 NW 22nd Street Miami, FL 33127 Questions: 305-372-9945 The Bill Huggett Memorial Endowment Fund c/o St. Stephen's Episcopal Day School 3439 Main Highway Coconut Grove, FL 33133 or The William Huggett Norway Relief Fund c/o Ross B. Toyne, Esq. 66 West Flagler Street -Suite 300 Miami, FL 33130 We will have a grand celebration of his life including video, music and stories about Bill on September 26, 2004, at 2:00pm at Plymouth Congregational Church on Main Highway in Coconut Grove. To visit this Guest Book Online, go to www.herald.com/obituaries. To visit this Guest Book Online, go to www.herald.com/obituaries.