Dade County FlArchives Biographies.....Willard, Ben C. August 6, 1891 - 
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Nancy Rayburn http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00025.html#0006128 January 26, 2016, 10:02 pm

Source: Vol. II  pg.157-158  The Lewis Publishing Co. 1923
Author: History of Florida, Past and Present 

        BEN C. WILLARD.  The distinction of being the youngest member ever 
elected to the Legislature from Dade County belongs to BEN C. WILLARD, a lawyer 
of Miami and an ex-service man with an overseas record. He is a native of Flori
Florida, and has been a member of the bar of the state for the past eight years.
	He was born at City Point in Brevard County, August 6, 1891, a son of
C. A. and OCTAVIA L. (JOHNSON) WILLARD, also natives of Florida and residents
of Miami. BEN C. WILLARD was educated in the public schools of Dade County, and
in 1906 entered the John B. Stetson University at DeLand, where he took both
the academic and law courses. He received his law degree with the class of
1914, and was admitted to the bar in June of the same year at Tallahassee. He
began practice with L. R. RAILEY, later was with M. D. PRICE, and following
that was a member of the law firm of Carson, Pine & Willard, which with the
withdrawal of Mr. Pine became Carson & Willard and so continued until April,
when F. L. KNIGHT became a member. As Carson, Willard & Knight this firm
remained until July, 1920, when it was dissolved, and Mr. Willard is now
practicing as senior member of the firm Willard & Knight.
	During this period he was with the colors, enlisting as a private in
the Army on April 26, 1918. He was assigned to Company D of the Three Hundred
and Sixth Ammunition Train. For twelve months he was overseas, and was in the
Meuse sector one month and was in the Argonne when the armistice was signed.
Mr. Willard was discharged in July, 1919, and at once resumed his professional
practice on his return to Miami. The same spirit of quiet and unassuming
loyalty and courage which characterized him as a soldier he carries out in all
the relations of his life. His qualities of being just himself, without
pretense of cleverness or of being something other than his real self, have
gained for him a high place in the regard of representative and successful men
of his city and state.
	Mr. Willard was chosen to represent Dade County in the House of
Representatives in the general election of 1920. He won the democratic
nomination for the office by a majority of seven hundred votes over one of the
ablest and most politically experienced citizens of Miami. In the following
session of the Legislature he rendered a good account of himself, becoming one
of the influential figures in the Legislature of 1921. He took an active
interest in all matters affecting his county and section of the state, and in
general legislation as well. Mr. Willard was particularly interested in the
proposed reapportionment amendment to be submitted to the people. He was a
member of the committees on canals and drainage, judiciary, census and
apportionments, city and town organizations, fisheries and county officials. He
was renominated June 6, 1922. Mr. Willard is affiliated with the Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks.
	February 9, 1920, he married Miss BILLIE TURQUENETTE, of Suffolk,
Virginia.


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