Obituary of State Senator Black Dies of Heart Attack: Rites to be held Saturday
Taken from the Gainesville Daily Sun 29 March 1940
Death Occurs While on Visit to Jax
Played Major Part In State Politics For Years
State Senator Robert Lucus Black, of Gainesville, for many years an outstanding figure in state politics and the naval stores industry, died last night in a Jacksonville hotel of a heart attack.
Funeral services are to be held Saturday afternoon at the First Methodist Church at 4 o'clock and will be conducted by Rev. H. W. Blackburn. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery.
Senator Black had just returned from South Carolina where he had been resting because of a heart ailment. He was confined to a Jacksonville hospital several weeks last year following a heart attack.
He was born on Sept. 30, 1883, at Branchville, S.C. and attended the rural schools in his native state, being graduated from the Walterboro schools about 1897. He came to Florida soon after graduation and for two years was a woods rider for his uncle, the late J. B. Padgett, naval stores operator. At the end of that period he attended Clemson College for several years before returning to Florida to become a turpentine operator in his own right. He was active in the naval stores industry until the time of his death, and was also connected with the potato industry at Hastings and in the drug business with a son, R. L. Black II, in Palatka.
Represented 32nd District
Senator Black represented the state's 32nd district in the senate, which is composed of Alachua and Gilchrist counties. He was a holdover member, his second term still having two years to run.
"My ambition is to leave as a heritage to my district and my family a truly honorable life spent in public service," Senator Black had often said, and his ambition had been fulfilled to the utmost.
His political career has been laid upon a solid foundation, dating back to 1918, when he was first elected to the old Gainesville City Council. For three successive two year terms he was chosen by the voter to administer their city government.
Served As Council Head
He served as president of the council from 1921 to 1922, and among his duties while a member of the council was the administering of the police and city parks and streets departments. He also served another term on the council in 1926 and 1927, just before the city commission form of government was inaugurated.
In 1929 he was elected as a representative from Alachua County in the state legislature and was re-elected for a two year term in 1931.
Another promotion had been earned and he was elected to the senate in 1934. When the time came to run for re-election in 1938 he was returned without opposition.
Wanted Special Session
J. C. Adkins, attorney for Senator Black, revealed this morning that one of the statesman's last official acts was to sign a paper calling for a special session of the legislature for the purpose of providing adequate old age pensions---a measure for which he had fought vigorously in the senate.
In 1931 while a member of the House, he introduced and caused to be passed the first pure food fertilizer law in Florida. He was chairman of the education committee while serving as a senator. He also sponsored a bill requiring the writing of a history of Florida by a Floridian for use as a text book in the schools of the state.
He was a member of the Gainesville Chamber of Commerce, the Free and Accepted Masons, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias, and was a steward in the Methodist Church.
On May 10, 1905, he married Miss Mayme L. Beach of South Carolina, who survives him. Other survivors include one son, R. L. Black, II, of Palatka, two grandsons, R. L. Black III, and John C. Black, both of Palatka; his mother, Mrs. R. B. Black of Jacksonville, four brothers, Graham Black of Jasper, R. D., Sheldon, and Heywood Black and one sister, Mrs. F. Y. Smith of Alachua.
Active pallbearers are M. M. Parrish, W. P. Boyd, W. A. Shands, B. C. Riley, Garland Powell, T. A. Snow, and J. C. Adkins, all of Gainesville and Clyde Moore of Palatka. They have been requested to meet at the Black residence at 3:30 tomorrow afternoon.
Honorary pallbearers, who are requested to meet at the church at 3:30 tomorrow afternoon, are: Dr. W. C. Thomas, M. A. Spruill, W. R. Thomas, S. W. Getzen, Judge A. V. Long, Dr. J. J. Tigert, W. A. McGriff, Robert Medlin, Judge H. L. Sebring, Miller Leake, George E. Evans, Dr. J. M. Dell, Sr., E. Mize, B. M. Tench, J. A. Phifer, W. A. Haile, W. M. Pepper, Sr., Prof. H. S. Newins, D. R. Matthews, A. B. Shaw, Mason Tison, J. L. Arnow, and John W. Booth, all of Gainesville; Nathan Mayo, Colin English, Judge Buford Rivers, J. M. Lee, R. A. Gray, George C. Gibbs, all of Tallahassee; Henry Rose, Robert Kloeppel, William Edwards, Harold Colee, Edward Ball, Neal Taylor, W. J. Kelley, Harry Howell, George B. Hills, and Lacy Mahon, all of Jacksonville; DeWitt Hague of Alachua, Millard Caldwell of Marianna, Hon. R. A. Green of Starke, D. P. McKinnon and D. F. Saxon of Miami, Charles A. McKay of Tampa, Judge A. Z. Adkins of Starke, James Whitehurst of Brooksville, Senator C. O. Andrews of Orlando, W. L. Stanley of Portsmouth, Va., Bryan Hanks of Miami, P. O. Knight of Tampa, Judge Arthur Gomez of Key West, Francis P. Whitehair of Deland, Hon. J. Turner Butler of Jacksonville president of the state senate and all members of the 1939 session.
Funeral arrangements are in charge of DeWitt C. Jones Company of Gainesville.
Taken from the Gainesville Daily Sun 29 March 1940
Death Occurs While on Visit to Jax
Played Major Part In State Politics For Years
State Senator Robert Lucus Black, of Gainesville, for many years an outstanding figure in state politics and the naval stores industry, died last night in a Jacksonville hotel of a heart attack.
Funeral services are to be held Saturday afternoon at the First Methodist Church at 4 o'clock and will be conducted by Rev. H. W. Blackburn. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery.
Senator Black had just returned from South Carolina where he had been resting because of a heart ailment. He was confined to a Jacksonville hospital several weeks last year following a heart attack.
He was born on Sept. 30, 1883, at Branchville, S.C. and attended the rural schools in his native state, being graduated from the Walterboro schools about 1897. He came to Florida soon after graduation and for two years was a woods rider for his uncle, the late J. B. Padgett, naval stores operator. At the end of that period he attended Clemson College for several years before returning to Florida to become a turpentine operator in his own right. He was active in the naval stores industry until the time of his death, and was also connected with the potato industry at Hastings and in the drug business with a son, R. L. Black II, in Palatka.
Represented 32nd District
Senator Black represented the state's 32nd district in the senate, which is composed of Alachua and Gilchrist counties. He was a holdover member, his second term still having two years to run.
"My ambition is to leave as a heritage to my district and my family a truly honorable life spent in public service," Senator Black had often said, and his ambition had been fulfilled to the utmost.
His political career has been laid upon a solid foundation, dating back to 1918, when he was first elected to the old Gainesville City Council. For three successive two year terms he was chosen by the voter to administer their city government.
Served As Council Head
He served as president of the council from 1921 to 1922, and among his duties while a member of the council was the administering of the police and city parks and streets departments. He also served another term on the council in 1926 and 1927, just before the city commission form of government was inaugurated.
In 1929 he was elected as a representative from Alachua County in the state legislature and was re-elected for a two year term in 1931.
Another promotion had been earned and he was elected to the senate in 1934. When the time came to run for re-election in 1938 he was returned without opposition.
Wanted Special Session
J. C. Adkins, attorney for Senator Black, revealed this morning that one of the statesman's last official acts was to sign a paper calling for a special session of the legislature for the purpose of providing adequate old age pensions---a measure for which he had fought vigorously in the senate.
In 1931 while a member of the House, he introduced and caused to be passed the first pure food fertilizer law in Florida. He was chairman of the education committee while serving as a senator. He also sponsored a bill requiring the writing of a history of Florida by a Floridian for use as a text book in the schools of the state.
He was a member of the Gainesville Chamber of Commerce, the Free and Accepted Masons, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias, and was a steward in the Methodist Church.
On May 10, 1905, he married Miss Mayme L. Beach of South Carolina, who survives him. Other survivors include one son, R. L. Black, II, of Palatka, two grandsons, R. L. Black III, and John C. Black, both of Palatka; his mother, Mrs. R. B. Black of Jacksonville, four brothers, Graham Black of Jasper, R. D., Sheldon, and Heywood Black and one sister, Mrs. F. Y. Smith of Alachua.
Active pallbearers are M. M. Parrish, W. P. Boyd, W. A. Shands, B. C. Riley, Garland Powell, T. A. Snow, and J. C. Adkins, all of Gainesville and Clyde Moore of Palatka. They have been requested to meet at the Black residence at 3:30 tomorrow afternoon.
Honorary pallbearers, who are requested to meet at the church at 3:30 tomorrow afternoon, are: Dr. W. C. Thomas, M. A. Spruill, W. R. Thomas, S. W. Getzen, Judge A. V. Long, Dr. J. J. Tigert, W. A. McGriff, Robert Medlin, Judge H. L. Sebring, Miller Leake, George E. Evans, Dr. J. M. Dell, Sr., E. Mize, B. M. Tench, J. A. Phifer, W. A. Haile, W. M. Pepper, Sr., Prof. H. S. Newins, D. R. Matthews, A. B. Shaw, Mason Tison, J. L. Arnow, and John W. Booth, all of Gainesville; Nathan Mayo, Colin English, Judge Buford Rivers, J. M. Lee, R. A. Gray, George C. Gibbs, all of Tallahassee; Henry Rose, Robert Kloeppel, William Edwards, Harold Colee, Edward Ball, Neal Taylor, W. J. Kelley, Harry Howell, George B. Hills, and Lacy Mahon, all of Jacksonville; DeWitt Hague of Alachua, Millard Caldwell of Marianna, Hon. R. A. Green of Starke, D. P. McKinnon and D. F. Saxon of Miami, Charles A. McKay of Tampa, Judge A. Z. Adkins of Starke, James Whitehurst of Brooksville, Senator C. O. Andrews of Orlando, W. L. Stanley of Portsmouth, Va., Bryan Hanks of Miami, P. O. Knight of Tampa, Judge Arthur Gomez of Key West, Francis P. Whitehair of Deland, Hon. J. Turner Butler of Jacksonville president of the state senate and all members of the 1939 session.
Funeral arrangements are in charge of DeWitt C. Jones Company of Gainesville.
Obituary of State Senator Black Dies of Heart Attack: Rites to be held Saturday
Taken from the Gainesville Daily Sun 29 March 1940
Death Occurs While on Visit to Jax
Played Major Part In State Politics For Years
State Senator Robert Lucus Black, of Gainesville, for many years an outstanding figure in state politics and the naval stores industry, died last night in a Jacksonville hotel of a heart attack.
Funeral services are to be held Saturday afternoon at the First Methodist Church at 4 o'clock and will be conducted by Rev. H. W. Blackburn. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery.
Senator Black had just returned from South Carolina where he had been resting because of a heart ailment. He was confined to a Jacksonville hospital several weeks last year following a heart attack.
He was born on Sept. 30, 1883, at Branchville, S.C. and attended the rural schools in his native state, being graduated from the Walterboro schools about 1897. He came to Florida soon after graduation and for two years was a woods rider for his uncle, the late J. B. Padgett, naval stores operator. At the end of that period he attended Clemson College for several years before returning to Florida to become a turpentine operator in his own right. He was active in the naval stores industry until the time of his death, and was also connected with the potato industry at Hastings and in the drug business with a son, R. L. Black II, in Palatka.
Represented 32nd District
Senator Black represented the state's 32nd district in the senate, which is composed of Alachua and Gilchrist counties. He was a holdover member, his second term still having two years to run.
"My ambition is to leave as a heritage to my district and my family a truly honorable life spent in public service," Senator Black had often said, and his ambition had been fulfilled to the utmost.
His political career has been laid upon a solid foundation, dating back to 1918, when he was first elected to the old Gainesville City Council. For three successive two year terms he was chosen by the voter to administer their city government.
Served As Council Head
He served as president of the council from 1921 to 1922, and among his duties while a member of the council was the administering of the police and city parks and streets departments. He also served another term on the council in 1926 and 1927, just before the city commission form of government was inaugurated.
In 1929 he was elected as a representative from Alachua County in the state legislature and was re-elected for a two year term in 1931.
Another promotion had been earned and he was elected to the senate in 1934. When the time came to run for re-election in 1938 he was returned without opposition.
Wanted Special Session
J. C. Adkins, attorney for Senator Black, revealed this morning that one of the statesman's last official acts was to sign a paper calling for a special session of the legislature for the purpose of providing adequate old age pensions---a measure for which he had fought vigorously in the senate.
In 1931 while a member of the House, he introduced and caused to be passed the first pure food fertilizer law in Florida. He was chairman of the education committee while serving as a senator. He also sponsored a bill requiring the writing of a history of Florida by a Floridian for use as a text book in the schools of the state.
He was a member of the Gainesville Chamber of Commerce, the Free and Accepted Masons, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias, and was a steward in the Methodist Church.
On May 10, 1905, he married Miss Mayme L. Beach of South Carolina, who survives him. Other survivors include one son, R. L. Black, II, of Palatka, two grandsons, R. L. Black III, and John C. Black, both of Palatka; his mother, Mrs. R. B. Black of Jacksonville, four brothers, Graham Black of Jasper, R. D., Sheldon, and Heywood Black and one sister, Mrs. F. Y. Smith of Alachua.
Active pallbearers are M. M. Parrish, W. P. Boyd, W. A. Shands, B. C. Riley, Garland Powell, T. A. Snow, and J. C. Adkins, all of Gainesville and Clyde Moore of Palatka. They have been requested to meet at the Black residence at 3:30 tomorrow afternoon.
Honorary pallbearers, who are requested to meet at the church at 3:30 tomorrow afternoon, are: Dr. W. C. Thomas, M. A. Spruill, W. R. Thomas, S. W. Getzen, Judge A. V. Long, Dr. J. J. Tigert, W. A. McGriff, Robert Medlin, Judge H. L. Sebring, Miller Leake, George E. Evans, Dr. J. M. Dell, Sr., E. Mize, B. M. Tench, J. A. Phifer, W. A. Haile, W. M. Pepper, Sr., Prof. H. S. Newins, D. R. Matthews, A. B. Shaw, Mason Tison, J. L. Arnow, and John W. Booth, all of Gainesville; Nathan Mayo, Colin English, Judge Buford Rivers, J. M. Lee, R. A. Gray, George C. Gibbs, all of Tallahassee; Henry Rose, Robert Kloeppel, William Edwards, Harold Colee, Edward Ball, Neal Taylor, W. J. Kelley, Harry Howell, George B. Hills, and Lacy Mahon, all of Jacksonville; DeWitt Hague of Alachua, Millard Caldwell of Marianna, Hon. R. A. Green of Starke, D. P. McKinnon and D. F. Saxon of Miami, Charles A. McKay of Tampa, Judge A. Z. Adkins of Starke, James Whitehurst of Brooksville, Senator C. O. Andrews of Orlando, W. L. Stanley of Portsmouth, Va., Bryan Hanks of Miami, P. O. Knight of Tampa, Judge Arthur Gomez of Key West, Francis P. Whitehair of Deland, Hon. J. Turner Butler of Jacksonville president of the state senate and all members of the 1939 session.
Funeral arrangements are in charge of DeWitt C. Jones Company of Gainesville.
Taken from the Gainesville Daily Sun 29 March 1940
Death Occurs While on Visit to Jax
Played Major Part In State Politics For Years
State Senator Robert Lucus Black, of Gainesville, for many years an outstanding figure in state politics and the naval stores industry, died last night in a Jacksonville hotel of a heart attack.
Funeral services are to be held Saturday afternoon at the First Methodist Church at 4 o'clock and will be conducted by Rev. H. W. Blackburn. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery.
Senator Black had just returned from South Carolina where he had been resting because of a heart ailment. He was confined to a Jacksonville hospital several weeks last year following a heart attack.
He was born on Sept. 30, 1883, at Branchville, S.C. and attended the rural schools in his native state, being graduated from the Walterboro schools about 1897. He came to Florida soon after graduation and for two years was a woods rider for his uncle, the late J. B. Padgett, naval stores operator. At the end of that period he attended Clemson College for several years before returning to Florida to become a turpentine operator in his own right. He was active in the naval stores industry until the time of his death, and was also connected with the potato industry at Hastings and in the drug business with a son, R. L. Black II, in Palatka.
Represented 32nd District
Senator Black represented the state's 32nd district in the senate, which is composed of Alachua and Gilchrist counties. He was a holdover member, his second term still having two years to run.
"My ambition is to leave as a heritage to my district and my family a truly honorable life spent in public service," Senator Black had often said, and his ambition had been fulfilled to the utmost.
His political career has been laid upon a solid foundation, dating back to 1918, when he was first elected to the old Gainesville City Council. For three successive two year terms he was chosen by the voter to administer their city government.
Served As Council Head
He served as president of the council from 1921 to 1922, and among his duties while a member of the council was the administering of the police and city parks and streets departments. He also served another term on the council in 1926 and 1927, just before the city commission form of government was inaugurated.
In 1929 he was elected as a representative from Alachua County in the state legislature and was re-elected for a two year term in 1931.
Another promotion had been earned and he was elected to the senate in 1934. When the time came to run for re-election in 1938 he was returned without opposition.
Wanted Special Session
J. C. Adkins, attorney for Senator Black, revealed this morning that one of the statesman's last official acts was to sign a paper calling for a special session of the legislature for the purpose of providing adequate old age pensions---a measure for which he had fought vigorously in the senate.
In 1931 while a member of the House, he introduced and caused to be passed the first pure food fertilizer law in Florida. He was chairman of the education committee while serving as a senator. He also sponsored a bill requiring the writing of a history of Florida by a Floridian for use as a text book in the schools of the state.
He was a member of the Gainesville Chamber of Commerce, the Free and Accepted Masons, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias, and was a steward in the Methodist Church.
On May 10, 1905, he married Miss Mayme L. Beach of South Carolina, who survives him. Other survivors include one son, R. L. Black, II, of Palatka, two grandsons, R. L. Black III, and John C. Black, both of Palatka; his mother, Mrs. R. B. Black of Jacksonville, four brothers, Graham Black of Jasper, R. D., Sheldon, and Heywood Black and one sister, Mrs. F. Y. Smith of Alachua.
Active pallbearers are M. M. Parrish, W. P. Boyd, W. A. Shands, B. C. Riley, Garland Powell, T. A. Snow, and J. C. Adkins, all of Gainesville and Clyde Moore of Palatka. They have been requested to meet at the Black residence at 3:30 tomorrow afternoon.
Honorary pallbearers, who are requested to meet at the church at 3:30 tomorrow afternoon, are: Dr. W. C. Thomas, M. A. Spruill, W. R. Thomas, S. W. Getzen, Judge A. V. Long, Dr. J. J. Tigert, W. A. McGriff, Robert Medlin, Judge H. L. Sebring, Miller Leake, George E. Evans, Dr. J. M. Dell, Sr., E. Mize, B. M. Tench, J. A. Phifer, W. A. Haile, W. M. Pepper, Sr., Prof. H. S. Newins, D. R. Matthews, A. B. Shaw, Mason Tison, J. L. Arnow, and John W. Booth, all of Gainesville; Nathan Mayo, Colin English, Judge Buford Rivers, J. M. Lee, R. A. Gray, George C. Gibbs, all of Tallahassee; Henry Rose, Robert Kloeppel, William Edwards, Harold Colee, Edward Ball, Neal Taylor, W. J. Kelley, Harry Howell, George B. Hills, and Lacy Mahon, all of Jacksonville; DeWitt Hague of Alachua, Millard Caldwell of Marianna, Hon. R. A. Green of Starke, D. P. McKinnon and D. F. Saxon of Miami, Charles A. McKay of Tampa, Judge A. Z. Adkins of Starke, James Whitehurst of Brooksville, Senator C. O. Andrews of Orlando, W. L. Stanley of Portsmouth, Va., Bryan Hanks of Miami, P. O. Knight of Tampa, Judge Arthur Gomez of Key West, Francis P. Whitehair of Deland, Hon. J. Turner Butler of Jacksonville president of the state senate and all members of the 1939 session.
Funeral arrangements are in charge of DeWitt C. Jones Company of Gainesville.
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