Bill Rankin

He was born on July 31, 1940, in Jersey City, New Jersey, to William and Grace Rankin. The oldest of four brothers, Bill was a driven young man, graduating high school early at 16 and then enlisting in the Marine Corps.

He earned his undergraduate degree in Physics from Holy Cross College in 1964 and then rejoined the Marines as an officer. In 1965, he attended flight school in Pensacola and met his wife, Cherrie.

In 1966, he served as a helicopter pilot for medical evacuation and VIP transport in the Vietnam War. After his tour of duty as a Captain, Bill flew for Air America in Saigon and Laos and then returned to the states to pursue a law degree at the University of San Diego (USD), graduating in 1974.

Bill and Cherrie then moved back to Pensacola, where Bill joined the State Attorney’s Office as a prosecutor. After entering private practice, Bill became a partner of Kerrigan Estess Rankin McLeod & Thompson in 1978, where he spent more than four decades as a lawyer.

Bill's background in science and his interest in engineering made it natural for him to focus on dangerous product litigation. Among many achievements during his career, Bill was the lead attorney in a case which not only resulted in a substantial jury verdict, but also encouraged a worldwide change in crane design.

Bill was an avid reader and learner, always looking for ways to increase his knowledge and skills. After retiring from his personal injury practice, he returned to the University of San Diego School of Law in 2016 to obtain his LLM in Taxation, where he became USD Law School’s oldest graduate and presented his son, Zac, with his diploma as Zac graduated with his law degree the same year.

In addition to his interest in history, poetry, and classical music, Bill was also a dedicated exercise enthusiast. He ran marathons, rollerbladed, and bicycled, to name only a few, and even bicycled from Pensacola to New Jersey. In his later years, Bill took up rowing, taking his rowboat out every morning along the bayou.

Above all, Bill loved his family – his wife of 53 years, Cherrie, and his sons, Max and Zac. His family motto was “duty, honor, family,” and Bill embodied those values throughout his lifetime.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Tommy and Jimmy. He is survived by his wife, Cherrie; his brother Donald (Michele); his sons Max (Katie) and Zac (Alyssa); and his grandchildren Will, Jenna, Andy, and a fourth grandchild due in April 2026.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests sending donations to Gulf Coast Adoptions or an adoption agency of your choice.