Hillsborough County FlArchives Biographies.....CHANCEY, R.E.L. December 16, 1880 - 
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Author: The History of Florida:  Past & Present, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1923,  Vol. II pg. 46

     CHANCEY, R.E.L.  To succeed as a member of the Tampa bar requires more 
than ordinary ability which has been carefully trained along the lines of the 
legal profession, as well as a vast fund of general information and keen 
judgment with regard to men and their motives.  In a city of the importance of 
Tampa there is, of course, much competition; events crowd each other; 
circumstances play so important a part in the shaping of events that a lawyer 
has to be a man capable of grasping affairs with a competent hand to effect 
satisfactory results.  Among those who have won enviable distinction as a 
member of the legal profession here is R. E. L. CHANCEY, with offices in the 
Sparkman Building.  He was born in Pierce County, Georgia, December 16, 1880, 
a son of LEWIS WILLIAM and ISABELL (BENNETT) CHANCEY, both of whom were also 
born in Georgia, where their families settled over 100 years ago.  They were 
the parents of sixteen children, eight sons and eight daughters.  All of the 
daughters and six of the sons are still living.  One son, Dr. M. G. CHANCEY, 
was a practicing physician and surgeon of Tampa for about fourteen years, and 
died January 8, 1918.  The third daughter, Mrs. ANNA B. BASS, resides at 
Tampa, and holds an official position under the county government.  Two other 
daughters also reside at Tampa.  CHRISTOPHER L. CHANCEY, the fourth son, is 
also a lawyer, who is engaged in an active practice at Fort Lauderdale, 
Florida.  Of all of the children R. E. L. CHANCEY, whose name heads this 
review, is the fourth child and second son.
     Growing up in his native state, R.E.L. CHANCEY attended its common 
schools, and took the high-school course at Jessup, Georgia.  Following his 
completion of that course he took a teacher’s training at the Georgia State 
Normal School at Athens, Georgia, and then for three terms was engaged in 
teaching school in Georgia.  He then took a scientific course at the Georgia 
Normal College at Abbeville, Georgia, from which he was graduated at the 
youthful age of twenty years.  His legal training was received in the law 
department of Mercer University, at Macon, Georgia, and in 1902 he was 
admitted to the bar and located at Blackshear, the county seat of Pierce 
County, but only remained there until 1905, when he left it for Tampa.  At one 
time Mr. CHANCEY was a candidate for the State Assembly of Florida, and was 
defeated by only thirteen votes.  He was appointed county solicitor of 
Hillsborough County in 1916 by Governor Catts, and was elected to it in 1917, 
and held it until July 10, 1920, when he was removed.  He was reinstated in 
January, 1921, by Governor Hardee, and was reimbursed by the State Senate for 
the time he was out of office on account of his removal.  For eight years he 
was in partnership with M. B. MACFARLANE, and when this association was 
dissolved he established an office by himself and has had no other partner.  
During the time he has been in practice he has been connected with some very 
important jurisprudence, and has handled his cases with ability and 
resourcefulness.  While county solicitor he prosecuted, convicted and sent to 
the penitentiary the tax collector for embezzlement of funds.  He belongs to 
the Knights of Pythias, and is a past chancellor commander of Bay Lodge, the 
largest in Florida.  Mr. CHANCEY also belongs to Tampa Lodge No. 708, B. P. O. 
E.
     On October 10, 1906, Mr. CHANCEY married JENNIE E. CORTINO, a native of 
Florida, and a daughter of CHARLES A. and TERESSA (GENONE) CORTINO, of 
Orlando, Florida.  Mr. and Mrs. CHANCEY had two children born to them, but R. 
E. L., Junior, was killed by an automobile, so that WILLIAM BENNETT is the 
only survivor.  Mr. CHANCEY holds to high ideals in his profession, and his 
work is characterized by a devotion to duty that is somewhat unusual.  A man 
of broad information along many lines, in his profession he has kept in close 
touch with all procedures both of a local and a national character.  His 
professional service has ever been discharged with a keen sense of 
conscientious obligation, and his work has brought him to a prominent 
position.  His personal acquaintance with the leading citizens of note is a 
broad one, and his spirit of good fellowship makes life brighter for those 
with whom he comes in contact.  Endowed by nature with strong mentality, he 
has so used his time and talents in the practice of law that he has not only 
won a material success, but a recognition which redounds to his lasting credit 
and establishes his prestige among the leaders in his profession throughout 
the state.


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