Paul Hitch Roney

PAUL H. RONEY Senior Circuit Judge United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit St. Petersburg, Florida Judge Roney was appointed to the United States Court of Appeals by President Richard Nixon on October 16, 1970 and sworn in on November 23, 1970. Originally appointed to the Fifth Circuit, he was assigned to the Eleventh Circuit when it was organized in 1981. He served as Chief Judge from September 1986 until October 1, 1989, when he took senior status. He maintained his Chambers in St. Petersburg, Florida. Judge Roney was born September 5, 1921 in Olney, Illinois, and moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, when he was four years old. He attended local schools, including St. Petersburg Junior College, and received his B.S. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Commerce & Finance in 1942. After graduating from college, he served in the U. S. Army as Staff Sergeant from 1943 to 1946. Judge Roney received his LL.B. from Harvard University in 1948, an LL.M. in the Judicial Process from the University of Virginia in 1984, and an honorary LL.D. from Stetson University College of Law in 1977. He was admitted to the New York Bar in 1949, and practiced law as an associate with Root, Ballantine, Harlan, Bushby & Palmer in New York from 1948 to 1950. Judge Roney was admitted to The Florida Bar in 1950, and was associated with the firm of Mann, Harrison, Roney, Mann & Masterson in St. Petersburg, Florida from 1950 to 1957. He was with Roney & Beach from 1957 to 1969, and with Roney, Ulmer, Woodworth & Jacobs from 1969 to 1970, until his appointment to the U. S. Court of Appeals. Judge Roney was a member of the American Bar Association, the American Judicature Society, The Florida Bar, and the St. Petersburg Bar Association President 1964-1965. He was a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. He was a member of the Judicial Conference of the United States from 1986 to 1989. He was a member of the faculty of the National Judicial College in 1974 and 1975, and a member of the American Bar Association's Task Force on Courts and the Public from 1973 to 1976. Judge Roney served on the Advisory Committee on Administrative Law Judges of the U. S. Civil Service Commission from 1976 to 1977. He was Presiding Judge of the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review from 1994 to 2001. He lectured at Stetson College of Law in 1957, 1965 and 1966. A long history of civic and community involvement includes service to the Child Guidance Clinic, Director 1953; St. Petersburg Council of Human Relations, President 1951-53; St. Petersburg Junior Chamber of Commerce, President 1954-55 Life member; American Cancer Society, Director 1957-59; Family and Children's Service Bureau, President 1961; Community Welfare Council, President 1962-64; Florida Presbyterian College now Eckerd College Co-Chairman of Fund Drive 1963-64; United Fund, Chairman, Professional Division 1965; All Children's Hospital, Co-Chairman of Fund Drive 1966-67; American Red Cross Chapter of South Pinellas, Director 1965-69, Vice-President 1966-68; Science Center of St. Petersburg, Honorary Director 1967; St. Petersburg Suncoasters Festival of States, Director and Vice-President 1967-69; St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce Member Government Steering Committee 1969-70; Museum of Fine Arts, Trustee 1968-70. He attended First Presbyterian Church, where he had served as Sunday School teacher, Sunday School Superintendent, Deacon and Elder. Judge Roney married Sarah Hancock Eustis Roney Sally on June 21, 1948. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his three children, Susan Markwick Roney, Paul Hitch Roney, Jr., and Timothy Eustis Roney Sand, a sister, Peggy Merchant, seven grandchildren, Jason Mathew Smith Lori, Lisa Marie Roney, Sarah Teresa Hancock Roney, John Paul Hitch Roney, Sean Timothy Roney, Lane Sullivan Hitch Roney, and Caitlin Jean Roney deceased, and two great grand children, Courtney Michele Taylor and Anna Grace Reed, three nephews and three nieces. Seventy-three law clerks worked for Judge Roney during his 36 years with the Court, typically serving a one to two-year term. He maintained long-lasting relationships with most of them, and was tremendously proud of all their accomplishments. He enjoyed every gathering, dinner and reunion where he could visit with his former clerks and their spouses and the ?grand clerks? as he fondly referred to their children. He was a mentor to many, a father figure to some, and to those who had the privilege to know him, a regal and inspirational man.