William O. Birchfield was born on December 19, 1935, and died on February 5, 2016.
He was an American politician, lawyer, and civic leader in the state of Florida.
Bill referred to himself as the “Duke of Mayo” from the small town (population 1,251) where he was born and raised.
Birchfield graduated from Lafayette High School in 1954.
He received further education at the University of Florida and earned a Bachelor’s degree majoring in Agriculture before enlisting in the United States Navy and serving a hitch.
Following that, he decided to further his education and was accepted by the Fredric G. Levin College of Law at the University of Florida where he earned his law degree in 1963 and was admitted to the Florida Bar on June 12, 1964.
Bill started practicing law in nearby Jacksonville.
Birchfield became interested in politics and was elected to the Florida House of Representatives as a Democrat representing the 21st district.
Minister Birchfield was reelected to a second two-year term and served from 1971 to 1974.
During his term as a legislator, during a particularly pointless debate, he was quoted as saying, “Inasmuch as we have lost sight of our objective, let us redouble our efforts to get there.”
Bill Birchfield passed away at 80 yrs old.