Joel Thomas Daves III

1928 - 2021

Joel Thomas Daves III
Joel Thomas Daves III died on July 20, 2021. He was 93 years old.
Mr. Daves was born July 14, 1928 in Atlanta, Ga. to Joel Thomas Daves, Jr. and his wife, Mary Munford Peeples Daves. Mr. Daves moved with his family to West Palm Beach in 1938. He attended the Palmetto School, Southboro School, Conniston Junior High School and Palm Beach High School. He was an Eagle Scout in Troop 13 at the Memorial Presbyterian Church. He played football in high school and was a member of the championship High School Glee Club.
In 1946 Mr. Daves entered the University of the South, Sewanee, Tenn., where he played football and graduated with honors. He graduated with high honors from the University of Florida Law School in 1953, having served as Editor in Chief of the Florida Law Review. Mr. Daves served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps from 1952-1955. He remained in the Marine Corps Reserve for many years, later serving as commanding officer, Company E, AmTrak Battalion, U. S. Marine Corps.
In 1955 he entered the practice of law with his father-in-law and brother-in-law at the firm of Paty, Downey & Daves. He was appointed County Solicitor, the predecessor office to the present State Attorney, by Governor Leroy Collins in 1959 and elected to that post in 1960. During his tenure as County Solicitor he reorganized the office, brought in several talented individuals who went on to prominent careers in the law and prosecuted offenders of all stations in life without fear or favor. In 1964 he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives and served one term there, where he was recognized as the outstanding freshman legislator. In 1970, after becoming deeply skeptical and disillusioned over the Vietnam War, he became a candidate for the U. S. Senate.
He was elected to the West Palm Beach City Commission in 1992 and served until 1999, when he resigned to run for mayor. He served as mayor of West Palm Beach from 1999 to 2003.
Mr. Daves practiced law in West Palm Beach for fifty years. He belonged to many religious, patriotic and civic organizations. He served as president of the West Palm Beach Kiwanis Club and served on the vestry of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. He was a dedicated fisherman and a member of the Jetty Conchs, a group of local fishermen who fished for snook every September from the south jetty at the Palm Beach Inlet. Among his other hobbies, he played the guitar and had his own bluegrass band, playing gigs and festivals around Florida in the late 1960's.
He was predeceased by his son, B. F. Paty Daves. He is survived by his wife, Darden Kettler Daves, daughter Posey Kettler Daves, sons Joel Thomas Daves IV and Christian Shannon Paty Daves, seven grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.