Henry Franklin Perritt, Jr.

Henry Franklin Perritt, Jr. born in Savannah, Georgia on August 15, 1934, and passed away March 8th after a valiant seven month battle against cancer. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Suzanne Clemons Perritt, daughter Felicia Perritt Otterbourg, grandchildren Lindsey Suzanne Otterbourg and Mark Logan Otterbourg, and cousins, and nieces. He was predeceased by son Henry Franklin Perritt III in 1988.

Frank was reared, and attended public schools, in Jacksonville, Florida. He was active in Boy Scouts in various capacities from 1944 – 1955. He earned his Eagle Scout badge in 1948.

He was appointed to the Naval Academy Appointment in 1953 but had entered the University of Florida in 1952. University of Florida accomplishments were: Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity President, Alpha Kappa Psi Business Fraternity member, National Society of Scabbard and Blade, Inter Fraternity Council President, Florida Blue Key President, University of Florida Hall of Fame. He graduated with a B.S.B.A. in Business Administration in 1956 as the Distinguished Military Graduate and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, Armor, US Army.

Between graduation and active duty he was in the Citizens & Southern National Bank Atlanta Executive Training Program and entered bank management 1956 – 1957.

He served the US Army on active duty from 1957 – 1959. Among many accomplishments were: U. S. Army Armor School Honor Graduate, 710th Tank Battalion S-1; Platoon Leader; Supply Platoon, Adjutant S-1; 17th Armor Group S-1 and S-4, Company Commander, Adjutant; Aide-de-Camp to Commanding General Ft Stewart, Brigadier General E. H. F. Svensson. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant July 5, 1958.

He entered the University of Florida Law School in 1959, earning a Juris Doctor degree in 1962.

Simultaneously with law school, he entered the Florida Army National Guard 1959, retiring in 1989 as a full Colonel.

During the 30+ years in the Army National Guard, among many decorations, medals, ribbons and badges were: Army Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Florida Distinguished Service Medal, Florida Commendation Medal, Florida Service Medal, Florida Active State Duty Ribbon, Florida Service Ribbon, Florida Meritorious Service Ribbon, Florida Distinguished Unit Citation Ribbon.

After clerking during law school summers at Marks, Gray, Yates, Conroy, & Gibbs, he joined the Firm in 1962 until his retirement from active practice in 2007.

Among many legal associations were: Florida Bar Association since 1952, Managing partner Marks Gray 1976 – 1982, Defense Research Institute Board of Governors, Admission to Florida and US Supreme Courts, and US District and Circuit Courts, International Association of Defense Counsel, Jacksonville Defense Lawyers Association President 1969, Association of Defense Attorneys President 1988-89, Florida Defense Lawyers Association President 1988, American Board of Trial Advocates, Founding Member Jacksonville American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) Chapter, ABOTA Lawyer of the Year, Florida ABOTA Trial Lawyer of the Year.

He was a member of Rotary International, Jacksonville Downtown Club, a Paul Harris Fellow, along with other civic associations and boards. He was a longtime member of South Jacksonville Presbyterian Church.

His retirement passion was the Wolf Laurel Community in North Carolina where he was president of the Property Owners Association.

Memorial contributions may be made to:

Rotary’s Jacksonville Downtown Club, Rotary P.O. Box 37028, Jacksonville, FL 32236

South Jacksonville Presbyterian Church, 2137 Hendricks Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32207

Women’s Giving Alliance Endowment, 245 Riverside Ave., Suite 310, Jacksonville, FL 32202

Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 13 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm at Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn Chapel, 4801 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32207. The funeral service will be on Friday, March 14, 2014 at South Jacksonville Presbyterian Church at 11:00 am. Burial will follow in Oaklawn Cemetery.

Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.hardage-giddensoaklawnchapel.com.