Joseph W. Bradham

BRADHAM, Jr. Joseph W. - passed away June 11, 2008 after a lengthy illness. He was born in 1921 in Kentucky and moved to Florida two years later with his family, Joseph Sr. and Stella. Mr. Bradham's paternal family was one of the founding families of Trilby, Florida, a small town outside of Dade City. Mr. Bradham and his family moved to St. Petersburg where he graduated from High School at Florida Military Academy in 1939. From 1942 through 1946 he served in the Army with the Engineers and earned several Campaign ribbons. He served in Scotland, England, North Africa and Italy. While in Italy he was required to and viewed the dead bodies of the ousted leader Benito Mussolini and his mistress. Upon his return to the United States, he finished his law degree at the University of Florida in 1948, and became a member of The Florida Bar. He began a general practice after law school in the Florida Theatre Building in downtown St. Petersburg. He continued practicing law in St. Petersburg until 2007; where he ended his career with Bradham, Benson, Lindley, Blevins, Bayliss, Wyatt & Ross of Florida West Coast, P.L.L.C.. In a notable case he represented the Estate of Dr. Mark Sheppard who was the Chief Anesthesiologist of St. Anthony's Hospital. Dr. Sheppard signed his Will on Wednesday, went to New Orleans and was murdered there on the following Friday. The suspect was tried three times, and on the third trial he was acquitted. Joseph was retained by Minneapolis Honeywell to assist the company in relocating to Pinellas County. He helped the Corporation acquire the 100 acres where Honeywell is located and re-zoned the land by telephone conference. As an attorney he prepared the corporation papers for Town of South Madeira Beach. Later, he wrote the legislation merging it with the Town of Madeira Beach to form the City of Madeira Beach. He became the first Municipal Judge for Madeira Beach. He handled a 'Breach of contract" lawsuit representing the Original Winehouse a.k.a Wine Cellar as a Plaintiff's Attorney. One of Al Capone's attorney's, Alfred Tietlebaum from Chicago, was hired to dissuade the filing of the lawsuit. Tietlebaum failed and the suit was filed. Mr. Bradham's friend, Frank Ragano, was representing the other side in the litigation. Bradham won the case at trial and at each appeal level including the Florida Supreme Court. Later, Joseph Bradham became a one half owner of the Winehouse for three years. For seven years, he focused on medical malpractice defense, representing medical doctors, insurance carriers and handling product liability cases for General Motors with friend and law partner Robert F. Nunez. Governor Farris Bryant offered a Circuit Judge appointment to Bradham, which he declined. Joseph Bradham continued to practice law in Pinellas County for 59 years. He was instrumental in assisting the formation of the "ICY" Republican group; Jack Insco, William Cramer and Bill Young. Joseph Bradham is survived by his wife, Alice, son, William B., daughter, Cecelia B. Mansfield, four grandsons, and five great-grandchildren all of Pinellas County, along with step-son Charles Michell. Friends may call on Monday, June 16th from 4-7 PM at Anderson-McQueen Funeral Home, 2201-Dr. M.L. King St. No., where a funeral service will be held on Tuesday, June 17th, at 1pm. Burial will follow at Royal Palm South Cemetery.