Frederick B. Karl
Justice Frederick B. Karl, c. 1977
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 14th district
In office
1956–1964
Member of the Florida Senate
from the 14th district
In office
1968–1971
Justice of the Florida Supreme Court
In office
January 4, 1977 – April 5, 1978
Preceded byB. K. Roberts
Succeeded byJames E. Alderman
Personal details
Born(1924-05-14)May 14, 1924
Daytona Beach, Florida
DiedMarch 7, 2013(2013-03-07) (aged 88)
Tampa, Florida
Political partyDemocratic
Children4
Alma materUniversity of Florida, Stetson University College of Law
Military service
AllegianceUnited States of America
Branch/service United States Army
Battles/warsBattle of the Bulge

Frederick Brennan "Fred" Karl (May 14, 1924 – March 7, 2013) was an American politician. A decorated U.S. service member, he began his political career serving in the Florida House of Representatives from 1956 to 1964, after which he was elected to the Florida State Senate from 1968 to 1971 and the Florida Supreme Court from 1977 to 1978.

Early life

Karl was born on May 14, 1924, in Daytona Beach, Florida, to Fred J. Karl and Mary Brennan.[1] He attended Seabreeze High School while working as an usher at a local theatre.[2] After graduation, he enrolled in the University of Florida and earned a Bachelor of Science in 1942.

Later that year he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Army. He served in the European Theater of Operations and was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge.[3] He was later awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal, and Purple Heart medals.[4] In 1949 he received a law degree from Stetson University College of Law.[1][4]

Career

Karl ran unsuccessfully for Governor in 1964.[5] He was elected to the Florida House of Representatives for Volusia County (District 14)[6] in 1956, which he sat until 1964.[7] He was elected to the state senate in 1968 and won an award the year after for "Most Outstanding First Term Member of the Senate". He served in the Senate until 1971.[8]

Retirement(s)

In 1977, Karl was the last elected justice to the Florida Supreme Court, on which he served for one year. He retired and returned to private practice in April 1978.[9] Later, he held positions of attorney to the Volusia County School Board, and District Attorney for Ormond Beach and Daytona Beach, and served as Chief Legal Officer and then as County Administrator of Hillsborough County, Florida.[6] In 1994 he was appointed to head Tampa General Hospital.[3]

In 2004, his eightieth year, Karl was appointed Interim City Attorney for Tampa, Florida, and then advisor to the Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority in response to allegations of improper conduct by the Authority.[10] In addition to serving in state and local offices, Karl was active as a community member, participating in many organizations such as the Rotary Club of Tampa, United Way of Hillsborough County, and the Stetson University Law Board of Overseers.[6] He later retired from public life for the fourth and final time.[3]

Personal life

Karl's hobbies included boating, fishing, swimming. and water skiing.[7] He released his autobiography, The 57 Club: My Four Decades in Florida Politics, in 2010. In a 2010 news article, Karl told a reporter that he was suffering from heart disease along with a progressive form of Parkinson's disease and diabetes.[11] Karl was married to Faye Brooker Karl from 1948 until their divorce in June 1971. They had four children; Cynthia, Frederick B Jr (Rick), Mary and James. He married Mercedes Jensen Klipstine Proctor (b. 1939) a few weeks after his divorce from Faye was final. [12]

Awards and honors

Karl was the winner of the 2004 Ralph A. Marsicano Award, an annual award in Florida for the person who has made significant contributions to the field of law over the long term.[13] Tampa mayor Pam Iorio proclaimed April 18, 2008, in Tampa, Florida, as named Frederick B. Karl Day.[6] A government building in Hillsborough County, Florida, is named for him.[14]

Death

Karl died at his home in Tampa aged 88.[15]

References

  1. 1 2 Who's Who in Government. Marquis Who's Who, LLC. 1977. p. 314. ISBN 0-8379-1203-2.
  2. ↑ Mormino, Gary R. "Lions in Spring" (PDF). University of South Florida. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 "The 57 Club: My Four Decades in Florida Politics: Overview". University Press of Florida. 2010-03-31. Retrieved 2011-12-13.
  4. 1 2 "Past Winners". University of Tampa. Archived from the original on 2013-12-03. Retrieved 2011-12-13.
  5. ↑ "Gubernatorial candidate Fred B. Karl of Daytona Beach". Florida Memory Project. Retrieved 2011-12-13.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Proclamation" (PDF). City of Tampa, Florida. 16 April 2008. Retrieved 2011-12-24.
  7. 1 2 "Representative Frederick B. "Fred" Karl". Florida House of Representatives. Retrieved 2011-12-13.
  8. ↑ "Florida Senators 1845-2001". University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries. Retrieved 2011-12-13.
  9. ↑ Thursby, Mary Agnes (2009-08-11). "Succession of Justices of Supreme Court of Florida" (PDF). Florida Supreme Court. Retrieved 2011-12-13.
  10. ↑ Van Sickler, Michael (2006-09-14). "Fred Karl to help road panel". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved 2011-12-13.
  11. ↑ Carlton, Sue (2010-03-24). "Trouble in government? Get me Fred Karl!". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on 2010-03-26. Retrieved 2011-12-13.
  12. ↑ WRITER, MARK LANE STAFF. "Daytona Beach native, former Fla. Supreme Court justice Fred Karl dies". Daytona Beach News-Journal Online. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
  13. ↑ "Karl wins Marsicano Award". Florida Bar News. 2004-06-15. Retrieved 2011-12-13.
  14. ↑ "How To Find Us". Hillsborough County Government Online. 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-12-03. Retrieved 2011-12-13.
  15. ↑ Obituary
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