Age: A very young 69.
Family: Wife, Kathryn, two sons and two daughters. Eight grandchildren ages 6 to 15. My oldest son is my law partner and oldest daughter is married to a lawyer.
Pets: Chow chow-golden retriever mix, a Walker coonhound and several cats including Cheddar, who is missing his front leg. We rescued him from St. Johns County Animal Shelter.
Education: Juris Doctor with honors from University of Florida; B.A. in political science at the same great university.
Admitted to Bar: 1967
Employed by: Alford Law Group
Field of practice: Personal injury, medical malpractice and product liability. The Florida Bar Board Certified in civil trial Law since 1983.
Professional organizations: Florida Justice Association, American Justice Association, Southern Trial Lawyers Association.
Community involvement: Served three years on the 4th Judicial Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission. I was chair the last 11/2 years. I spend a lot of time mentoring my oldest grandson who is 15 years old — a formidable task.
How did you become involved?
I wanted to do a Bar activity that would have a true, long-term impact on the practice of law in this Circuit. After all, what is more important than the selection of our trial judges?
What have you learned from this experience?
There are many well qualified lawyers interested in serving on the trial bench in this Circuit. All of the members of the commission take their jobs very seriously and a true effort is made to send the governor candidates who have the temperament and skills to be excellent trial judges.
What was the last book you read or are reading?
I am currently reading "Six Years" by Harlan Coben. I last read "Citizen Soldiers: The U. S. Army from the Normandy Beaches to the Bulge to the Surrender of Germany" by Stephen Ambrose