Louis Hampton Ritter

Surviving are his wife, Judie; a son, Louis H. Ritter, Jr. (Carole); three daughters, Nancy Seely (Mark), Celeste Wilson (Ray), and Pamela Ritter; nephew David Ritter (Gloria); grandchildren, Christopher Seely, Alexandra Wilson, Robert and Andrew Hall and other loving relatives, many dear friends and his loyal dog, Duke.

He was a lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church and served as a Deacon and Elder.

Mr. Ritter graduated from Andrew Jackson High in 1943. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Administration from the University of Florida. He was elected to the Jacksonville City Council in 1951 and served as President of the Council during 1953-1954. In 1955, he was elected as Commissioner of Highways, Sewers and Airports. He served as Mayor from 1964-1967. Later in 1967, he was hired by the Honorable R. Sargent Shriver in the Office of Economic Opportunity in Washington, D.C. serving in a variety of capacities. In 1971, he was appointed by Governor Reubin Askew as Secretary of the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation through 1974. From 1974-2007, he opened Louis H. Ritter and Associates, a Governmental Relations Consulting Firm and represented many clients.

He also served and played a major role in many political campaigns throughout his life including President John F. Kennedy.

His fraternal and civic affiliations included Phi Delta Theta Social Fraternity and Alpha Kappa Psi Honorary Business Fraternity at the University of Florida; Temple Lodge – Free & Accepted Masons, Scottish Rite and Morocco Temple Shriners of Jacksonville, FL; Royal Order of Jesters, Tallahassee, FL.

He was a member of The River club and Seminole Club of Jacksonville.

Active Pallbearers are Tyler Abell, Potomac, Maryland, William O. Birchfield, Richard Cohee, W.W. “Bill” Gay, Paul Harden, Wesley Paxson, Bernie Parrish, Scott Peek, Douglas Sessions and Claude Smith. Honorary Pallbearers are Governor Reuben Askew, Judge Charles Arnold, Charles Barner, Richard Burroughs, Aubrey Daniel, John Hiott, Caressa Huges, Governor Claude Kirk, Mary Alice Palmer, Bruce Shealy, Bruce Smathers, Samuel Shorstein, Douglas Stowell, John Thomas, Karen Thurman, Charles Towers, Jr. Clarence Wood, Mayor John Peyton, Former Mayors Hans Tanzler, Jr., Jake Godbold, Tommy Hazouri, Ed Austin and John Delaney.

Visitation will be Tuesday April 13 from 6-8 p.m. at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, 4115 Hendricks Avenue, Jacksonville, FL. The funeral service will be Wednesday, April 14 at 2:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 118 East Monroe Street, Jacksonville. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery.

Family suggests memorial contributions to the Florida School for the Deaf & Blind Music Program, 207 San Marco Avenue, St. Augustine, FL 32084.