by Bradley Parsons
Staff Writer
Some people might say William Maness, at age 89, is too old to be looking through the want ads. But with a wave of his hand, Maness dismisses that kind of talk as prattle from a leisure-loving generation.
Let other old men fritter away time on the golf course, he says. After six decades in law and politics, Maness is still building his resume.
“People retire at 70,” he says. “That’s 20 years I would have had to fill. What am I supposed to do with 20 years, play golf?”
Instead, Maness is applying for a trial court clerkship with the Fourth Judicial District’s Criminal and Civil divisions.
Maness boasts 60 years of law practice, including five as a Circuit Court judge, and two terms with the Florida Legislature, so he doesn’t think qualifications will be a problem.
But he’s a little concerned his age might be an issue. Rare is the judicial clerk who witnessed the Depression first-hand.
“They say they’re an equal-opportunity employer,” said Maness, pointing to the ad. “We’ll test that out.”
Maness has been looking for a way to get back to judge’s work since 1963, when his term as Circuit Court judge expired. Maness loved the job, but the paycheck chased him back to lawyering.
“I made $16,000 my last year as a judge,” said Maness. “I worked five years and went broke. It’s not how much you make, it’s how much you get used to spending. I learned that.”
But the greatest indignity heaped on the judges was the constant ribbing suffered at (Timuquana) Country Club.
“I remember listening to a doctor saying, ‘We sure feel sorry for you poor judges,’” he said.
Today’s Circuit Court judge earns $139,297. That salary might have let Maness keep his job on the bench.
“It’s too bad, because people thought I was a great judge. And I thought so too,” he said.
But Maness hasn’t had any trouble keeping busy. In addition to his law practice and politics, Maness has written six books.
He says he learned to love work from his father. W.L. Maness was a preacher and farmer in rural North Carolina.
W.L. didn’t understand the concept of “free time.” Idle hands were quickly filled with a tool or a bible. He also didn’t understand why his son couldn’t survive on $16,000 a year.
“He never made more than $4,000 a year in his life. But he knew how to farm and how to grow the best vegetables,” said Maness.
Maness learned from his dad that “relaxing is going to the office every day.” That includes weekends, but Maness admits that he cuts loose a little on Sunday. That’s when he goes to Sunday school and church.