Hillsborough County FlArchives Biographies.....Morales, Richard D. July 21, 1887 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/fl/flfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Nancy Rayburn http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00025.html#0006128 November 2, 2015, 11:56 pm Source: Vol. II pg.131-132 The Lewis Publishing Co. 1923 Author: History of Florida, Past and Present RICHARD D. MORALES. Well versed in the principles and precedents of law, and in the Spanish and English languages, RICHARD D. MORALES, is one of the able attorneys practicing at the bar of Tampa, is thoroughly competent to make himself acquainted with any proposition of the law which he might desire to investigate. A diligent student of the very best literature of Spain, England and America, a man of fine education, having a good command of language in both tongues with which he is acquainted, he possesses the ability to express his thoughts with great force and eloquence. RICHARD D. MORALES is not a native of the United States, as he was born at Havana, Cuba, July 21, 1887 but he has been a resident of Tampa since he was 12 years of age, having been then brought to this city by his parents, the late JOSE MORALES and ADRIANA (RABELL) MORALES, natives of Cuba. The father was one of the first tobacco factors to locat at Tampa, which he continued to make his permanent home, and where he built up a large and valuable connection. He went to England to live when quite young, and there received his education, being a graduate from Oxford University at London, and he spoke English, French and Spanish fluently. Growing up at Tampa, RICHARD D. MORALES attended its public schools, and while learning the essentials of the English language, continued to speak his mother tongue at home, and in this way retained a grasp on it which has proven very valuable to him in his practice. Mr. Morales has been very carefully educated, for he attended the University of Florida at Gainesville, Rollins College at Winter Park, where he remained for three years, and Washington and Lee University at Lexington, Virginia, from which he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1910. In 1909 he was admitted to practice in Virginia, and in 1911 to practice in Florida, and in the latter year established himself in a general practice at Tampa, in the office of ROBERT W. DAVIS, who is now the well-known and popular editor of the “Gainesville” and mayor of Gainesville, and at one time was candidate for governor of the state. Reared in the faith of the Catholic Church, he has long been a member of that church, and he belongs to the Knights of Columbus. On June 29, 1921, Mr. Morales married ANNA B. MILLER, a daughter of the late J. R. MILLER, and RAY ELIZABETH MILLER, the former being a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Mr. Morales is a democrat, and at one time was a candidate of his party for the office of criminal judge of Hillsborough County. He has always been very active in politics, but his main interest is centered in his profession, of which he is a most worthy exponent. Long recognizing the fact that the law’s administration should be accessible to all, not only in name but also in deed, he felt that those not familiar with the English language were not given a fair advantage, and has exerted himself to see that his fellow countrymen and those speaking and understanding only the Spanish tongue should receive the benefit of the services of one who could not only understand them, but in turn be comprehended by them. His work in this line alone entitles him to much commendation, and has won for him the respect and confidence of his brother practitioners, who readily accord to him the position his talents and activities entitle him in his calling and community. As a citizen he has proven his worth and loyalty upon many occasions. The welfare and development of Tampa are matters of great interest to Mr. Morales, and he can be confidently depended upon to do all within his power to aid in bringing about such changes as may be deemed expedient. During the World war Mr. Morales served in the United States Army for ten months, being assigned to the Medical Detachment, and on account of his familiarity with the Spanish language he was assigned a lot of work in the Psychological Department. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/fl/hillsborough/bios/morales244bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/flfiles/ File size: 4.7 Kb