OCALA - Al Jennings Cone, Jr. - successful lawyer, celebrated community leader, and decorated war hero - died last Friday morning at the Legacy House Hospice, from respiratory complications. He was 87.
Cone, a Levy County native, is a 1943 University of Florida graduate. He served with the 102nd Infantry Division during World War II, earning a Silver Star and several Purple Hearts.
Cone attended law school at the University of Florida, launching his legal career at an insurance defense firm after a brief stint in teaching. He switched to personal injury litigation, where he built a reputation as one of the nation's leading trial lawyers who fought for the rights of the everyday citizen.
"He was a champion for the little people," said Ocala attorney Steve Rothenburg, a good friend of Cone's who practiced law with him over the past 11 years.
Cone became a fixture in West Palm Beach, rising to senior partner at his firm and founding the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers. He served as past president of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, now the Florida Justice Association, before retiring to Ocala in 1989.
The calling of law too strong to resist, Cone resumed representing civil plaintiffs in personal injury and product liability cases in Ocala, and established himself in the community as an active and outspoken advocate for social and race issues.
In 1995, he founded the Friendship Club, a monthly gathering of individuals from all racial backgrounds who met to discuss community issues.
"He was a very conscientious type of guy. He had the privilege of seeing cultures of different people from their eyes," said Patrick Hadley, 55, who first became acquainted with Cone in 1991 through the mentoring organization, MADDADS.
Described as a voracious reader and an extremely modest and selfless individual, Cone unsuccessfully campaigned for an open Florida Senate seat during the local Republican primary in September 1996.
Cone is survived by his wife, Helen; five children: Douglas, 57; Carolyn, 60; Steven, 53; Clark, 53; and Victoria, 57; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. A memorial service is scheduled for Friday, September 5 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel West Palm Beach.
In an op-ed article in the Star-Banner on Sept. 24, 2006, Cone wrote about the importance of mending partisan divisions.
"Let's try reason, restraint, generosity of thought and good manners in the old-fashioned, conservative way. We might be pleasantly surprised at what courtesy and fair play can accomplish," he wrote.
Cone, a Levy County native, is a 1943 University of Florida graduate. He served with the 102nd Infantry Division during World War II, earning a Silver Star and several Purple Hearts.
Cone attended law school at the University of Florida, launching his legal career at an insurance defense firm after a brief stint in teaching. He switched to personal injury litigation, where he built a reputation as one of the nation's leading trial lawyers who fought for the rights of the everyday citizen.
"He was a champion for the little people," said Ocala attorney Steve Rothenburg, a good friend of Cone's who practiced law with him over the past 11 years.
Cone became a fixture in West Palm Beach, rising to senior partner at his firm and founding the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers. He served as past president of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, now the Florida Justice Association, before retiring to Ocala in 1989.
The calling of law too strong to resist, Cone resumed representing civil plaintiffs in personal injury and product liability cases in Ocala, and established himself in the community as an active and outspoken advocate for social and race issues.
In 1995, he founded the Friendship Club, a monthly gathering of individuals from all racial backgrounds who met to discuss community issues.
"He was a very conscientious type of guy. He had the privilege of seeing cultures of different people from their eyes," said Patrick Hadley, 55, who first became acquainted with Cone in 1991 through the mentoring organization, MADDADS.
Described as a voracious reader and an extremely modest and selfless individual, Cone unsuccessfully campaigned for an open Florida Senate seat during the local Republican primary in September 1996.
Cone is survived by his wife, Helen; five children: Douglas, 57; Carolyn, 60; Steven, 53; Clark, 53; and Victoria, 57; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. A memorial service is scheduled for Friday, September 5 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel West Palm Beach.
In an op-ed article in the Star-Banner on Sept. 24, 2006, Cone wrote about the importance of mending partisan divisions.
"Let's try reason, restraint, generosity of thought and good manners in the old-fashioned, conservative way. We might be pleasantly surprised at what courtesy and fair play can accomplish," he wrote.
OCALA - Al Jennings Cone, Jr. - successful lawyer, celebrated community leader, and decorated war hero - died last Friday morning at the Legacy House Hospice, from respiratory complications. He was 87.
Cone, a Levy County native, is a 1943 University of Florida graduate. He served with the 102nd Infantry Division during World War II, earning a Silver Star and several Purple Hearts.
Cone attended law school at the University of Florida, launching his legal career at an insurance defense firm after a brief stint in teaching. He switched to personal injury litigation, where he built a reputation as one of the nation's leading trial lawyers who fought for the rights of the everyday citizen.
"He was a champion for the little people," said Ocala attorney Steve Rothenburg, a good friend of Cone's who practiced law with him over the past 11 years.
Cone became a fixture in West Palm Beach, rising to senior partner at his firm and founding the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers. He served as past president of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, now the Florida Justice Association, before retiring to Ocala in 1989.
The calling of law too strong to resist, Cone resumed representing civil plaintiffs in personal injury and product liability cases in Ocala, and established himself in the community as an active and outspoken advocate for social and race issues.
In 1995, he founded the Friendship Club, a monthly gathering of individuals from all racial backgrounds who met to discuss community issues.
"He was a very conscientious type of guy. He had the privilege of seeing cultures of different people from their eyes," said Patrick Hadley, 55, who first became acquainted with Cone in 1991 through the mentoring organization, MADDADS.
Described as a voracious reader and an extremely modest and selfless individual, Cone unsuccessfully campaigned for an open Florida Senate seat during the local Republican primary in September 1996.
Cone is survived by his wife, Helen; five children: Douglas, 57; Carolyn, 60; Steven, 53; Clark, 53; and Victoria, 57; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. A memorial service is scheduled for Friday, September 5 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel West Palm Beach.
In an op-ed article in the Star-Banner on Sept. 24, 2006, Cone wrote about the importance of mending partisan divisions.
"Let's try reason, restraint, generosity of thought and good manners in the old-fashioned, conservative way. We might be pleasantly surprised at what courtesy and fair play can accomplish," he wrote.
Cone, a Levy County native, is a 1943 University of Florida graduate. He served with the 102nd Infantry Division during World War II, earning a Silver Star and several Purple Hearts.
Cone attended law school at the University of Florida, launching his legal career at an insurance defense firm after a brief stint in teaching. He switched to personal injury litigation, where he built a reputation as one of the nation's leading trial lawyers who fought for the rights of the everyday citizen.
"He was a champion for the little people," said Ocala attorney Steve Rothenburg, a good friend of Cone's who practiced law with him over the past 11 years.
Cone became a fixture in West Palm Beach, rising to senior partner at his firm and founding the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers. He served as past president of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, now the Florida Justice Association, before retiring to Ocala in 1989.
The calling of law too strong to resist, Cone resumed representing civil plaintiffs in personal injury and product liability cases in Ocala, and established himself in the community as an active and outspoken advocate for social and race issues.
In 1995, he founded the Friendship Club, a monthly gathering of individuals from all racial backgrounds who met to discuss community issues.
"He was a very conscientious type of guy. He had the privilege of seeing cultures of different people from their eyes," said Patrick Hadley, 55, who first became acquainted with Cone in 1991 through the mentoring organization, MADDADS.
Described as a voracious reader and an extremely modest and selfless individual, Cone unsuccessfully campaigned for an open Florida Senate seat during the local Republican primary in September 1996.
Cone is survived by his wife, Helen; five children: Douglas, 57; Carolyn, 60; Steven, 53; Clark, 53; and Victoria, 57; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. A memorial service is scheduled for Friday, September 5 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel West Palm Beach.
In an op-ed article in the Star-Banner on Sept. 24, 2006, Cone wrote about the importance of mending partisan divisions.
"Let's try reason, restraint, generosity of thought and good manners in the old-fashioned, conservative way. We might be pleasantly surprised at what courtesy and fair play can accomplish," he wrote.
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