The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-12-13
COL. JOHN |. NEELEY RETIREs.

1 COL JOHN Ls NEELEY REIlkES.
After having giyen seven years of
faithful and untiring service to the
department of Justice of the United
States in the capacity of district at
torney for the Northern District of
Florida, Hon. John L. Medley is re-
firing from public office, but will con-
tinue to practice his chosen profession
in Pensacola where he has made coun-
less friends since coming to our city
THE seven years which Mr.. Neeley
has served as district attorney have
been years filled with hard work on
his part. He has encountered many
obstacles in carrying out his duties,
but always through his ability as a
lawyer and the. perseverance which
marks the man, he has overcome these
obstacles and difficulties, and in MAX
ing his exit from the office which he
has filled with distinction he leaves
record behind of which he can be
proud
Mr.. Medley is a Floridian by birth
and a true democrat in principle. He
was born in jefferson county, de-
scending from an old southern family
and grew to young manhood beneath
the sunny skies of his native state
While on a vacation at his sisters
home in South Florida in 1897, with
out solicitation on his part, he was
rendered by the newly appointed rail-
road commission the office of secre-
tary of that body because of his ex-
pert knowledge of rates and transport
tatfon as they existed at that time.
Upon being rendered this position
he abandoned his educational career
and entered upon the duties of Sec
rotary of the railroad commission of
which he was chosen from a long list
of eligibles. He filled this office with
distinction until 1901 when he resigned
to enter the practice Of law at ITALIA
.hassee.
While practicing his profession at
the state capital Mr.. ,Neeley was APP
pointed by Governor Jennings in 1901,
as a member of the board OF trustees
of the Florida State College which is
now known as the University of Flor
ida, of which DR.. A. A. Murphree is
president. He was selected by the
board as chairman of the executive
committee Of which DR.. w. A. RawIs
was secretary and DR. Henry Z. Pal
mer, third member
The young trustee gave freely of his
time and energy towards establishing
the higher institutions Of learning in
his state and was an ardent supporter
of DR.. Murphree, who was the first
president of the West Florida Sem
mary, later the State College for
Women, and who was also the first
president Of the University Of F'lorida
Mr.. Neeley was chosen by the peo-
pie of Leon county to represent them
in the state legislature in 1909 and
with the assistance of Hon. w. T. Cash
and others, passed what was known
as the Cash bill. He rendered to the
people of his county such merited
service that he was again elected in
1914. but resigned to become United
States District Attorney.
1t was through the endorsement and
support of Senator Nathan p. Bryan
and Senator Duncan U. Fletcher that
Mr.. Neeley was appointed to the at
torneyship which had been made va
cant by the appointment of Hon. p.
70. Love. then district attorney, by
Governor TrammelI to serve as judge
of the second judicial circuit
Following the appointment by Judge
Sheppard in March, 1915, Col. Neeley
entered upon his duties as district at
torney and has served continuously
since that time. Owing to the great
increase in the work of his office be-
cause of the war and conditions lead
ing up to it he was compelled to either
resign his office o.. give up his law
practice and remain permanently in
Pensacola. Because OF his earnest de-
sire to render fa.rhsul service during
the trying war periods he took this
step and remained with the office
From the beginning Col Neeley was
confronted with important cases in
volying questions of international law
as we'll as the usual civil and criminal
cases dealt with 10y the district attor-
ney's office. He was also called upon
to deal with numerous problems aris-
ing under the acts of congress, includ-
ing the shipping acts, and has success /
fully handled numbers of cases in adj
miralty as ex-officio attorney for the
shipping board of the Emergency Fleet |
Corporation.
In disposing OF the many intricate
problems that have confronted him
during the seven years which he has
been in office Colonel Neeley has made
friends in Pensacola and throughout
West Florida who will remember the
services that he has rendered. He has
established his office in the Thiesen
building and will greet his friends
there in the future.