Judge R. Hudson Olliff

Retired Circuit Judge, R. Hudson Olliff, age 90, passed away at his home on Tuesday, December 8, 2015. A lifelong resident of Jacksonville, he was preceded in death by his wife, Ronnie. Surviving are his daughter, Sharon Olliff Pittman (Dr. Keith Pittman), two grandchildren, Chelby Pittman Flye (Jason), and Keith Pittman of Matthews, North Carolina; his son, R. Hudson Olliff III (Melva Sorrells Olliff), and grandson, Nathaniel Sorrells Olliff, of Dothan, Alabama.

Olliff attended local schools, and during World War II he quit Andrew Jackson Senior High School and volunteered for the Army Paratroops. He served in combat in Europe with the 17th and 101st Airborne Divisions, earning 3 battle stars, and invasion arrowhead, the Combat Infantry Badge, and the Bronze Star Medal. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and in other battles in France, Belgium, Luxemburg and Germany.

After military service, he earned his high school diploma and attended Jacksonville Junior College (now Jacksonville University) and was captain of the basketball team in 1946-47. Subsequently he attended the University of Florida, was a member of the Delta Theta Phi Legal fraternity and graduated from law school in 1952. He then entered law practice in Jacksonville. He served as assistant and chief assistant prosecuting attorney in the Duval County Solicitors Office and the State Attorney’s Office from 1957 through 1964. During his years as prosecutor, he set up the first automobile manslaughter investigation teams in the old sheriff’s office and the Jacksonville Police Department, and prosecuted all automobile manslaughter cases in Duval County. He frequently held seminars for local officers and law enforcement officers from the north Florida area.

In 1964 he left the State Attorney’s Office and entered into practice with the law firm of Olliff, Horner and Meers. In 1970, he was elected without opposition, as Judge of the Criminal Court of Record for Duval County. In 1973, he was elevated to Circuit Judge by legislative act and served until his retirement in 1995. During his 25 years on the bench, he served exclusively in the felony division of Court. He was active in the establishment of the Habitual Criminal Court and served as its first judge. After retirement, he was appointed Senior Circuit Judge by the Florida Supreme Court and handled cases on appointment by the Chief Judge. He was a member of the Jacksonville and Florida Bar Associations and was admitted to the United States Supreme Court.

Active in religious affairs, he was a certified lay speaker for 20 years and spoke frequently at churches and civic and fraternal organizations. He was a 32 degree Mason, a member of the Mandarin Masonic Lodge, the Scottish Rite, the Morocco Temple and the First Baptist Church.

A memorial service will be held at two o’clock in the afternoon on Sunday, December 13, 2015 at Hardage-Giddens Hendricks Chapel, 4115 Hendricks Avenue, Jacksonville, Florida. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations in his name be made to Community Hospice of Northeast Florida, 4266 Sunbeam Road, 32257 or Jacksonville Sheltie Rescue at www.jacksonvillesheltierescue.org

HARDAGE-GIDDENS, 4115 Hendricks Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32207.