William H. Maness, one of the oldest practicing attorney’s in Jacksonville, is doing it again. Maness has written four books and he’s in the midst of writing his fifth, which he hopes to have ready in December — the month he’ll turn 90. Having served as a Navy pilot, an attorney and a judge, 89-year-old Maness continues to put down lifetime memories that have “hung” with him.
His newest book titled “Memories: The Other Side of Life” will contain a section about a tragic accident that happened when the courthouse was being built in 1957.
A construction elevator on the outside of the building fell and killed seven people, 12 were injured.
Maness was in court that day at the now razed courthouse on Forsyth and Market Streets, the site of the east section of the current Yates Building.
Four years after the event, a monument was placed at the then “new” courthouse on Bay Street, a monument Manness had lobbied for.
Maness’ other books include“Dear William: The Yeast Is There,” “This Was My Life” and “I’m Doing The Best I Can,” “Things I Wanted to Say Before, When I Thought I Didn’t Have Time to Say More.”
Proceeds from the sale of his books benefit his beloved alma mater, Elon College, between Greensboro and Durham, N..C