William H. Harrell Jr.

1946 - 2017

HARRELL William Bill H. Harrell, Jr., 70, passed away peacefully at home on October 14, 2017, surrounded by his loving children and wife. Bill was born on October 18, 1946 in Lake City, Florida. He was the son of a decorated career Air Force pilot and grew up around the world. Bill spent high school in Mobile, Alabama at the University Military School, where he was a stand-out athlete in football and basketball and graduated in 1964. He followed his father's footsteps to the University of Florida on a full athletic scholarship in football. After a career-ending injury on the gridiron, Bill enlisted in the US Army as an infantryman and was later appointed to the United States Military Academy (West Point). After completing his military service, Bill returned to the University of Florida where he was a member of the Florida Blue Key and Delta Tau Delta fraternity. He graduated college with a B.S. in Business Administration in 1971 and married Marsha McLendon Harrell. He put himself through law school at the University of Florida while working as a deputy sheriff for the Alachua County Sheriff's Office graduating in 1974. After law school, Bill started a law firm in Melbourne, Florida, which became the largest multi-specialty law firm on the central east coast of Florida. Bill had a varied and remarkable career as a trial lawyer that crossed many different fields. He was AV-rated by Martindale Hubble and was board-certified in civil trial law-having tried over 100 jury trials. Bill represented diverse clients, from individuals to Fortune 500 companies to municipalities. His family, which now included four children, moved to Jacksonville to be closer to his parents and sister in 1991. Shortly afterwards, he started a new law firm that became known as Harrell & Harrell. He practiced law at Harrell & Harrell with his second wife of nearly 20 years, Renee Daigle Harrell, and his eldest children, Holt and Julie. Bill was a prolific reader, often reading a book a night, and he had a passion for boating and sailing, which he often did in the Bahamas-especially Hope Town. After countless vacations in the islands, Bill could navigate the waters of the Bahamas as if he was a native. Bill also never forgot his love of Florida football, being a Bull Gator since 1984 and an original skybox owner. It would be impossible to list all of the awards Bill received or the many organizations of which he was a member. One of his proudest moments was being inducted into the University of Florida Hall of Fame for his significant academic, athletic, and civic achievements at school. Bill was active in the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers (now known as the FJA), serving on its Board of Directors, Executive Committee, and received numerous awards for his support of the organization. Bill was a member of Mensa, The Shriners, and was a Master in the Masonic Lodge. He is survived by his wife, Renee Daigle Harrell, his children, W. Holt Harrell (Jessie), Julie Marie Harrell (Matthew Doherty), Susan Elizabeth Harrell, and Kimberly Harrell Chapman (Gregory), his five grandchildren, and his sister, Judge Susan Harrell Black. The family will have a small private service at New Harmony United Methodist Church in Live Oak, Florida, one of Bill's childhood churches. A celebration of Bill's life will be held at a later time. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to either: Shriners Hospitals for Children Office of Development 2900 Rocky Point Dr. Tampa, FL 33607 The American Cancer Society P.O. Box 22478 Oklahoma City, OK 73123 Arrangements entrusted to Hardage Giddens Oaklawn Chapel, 4801 San Jose Blvd. Jacksonville, Fl. 32207.