Attorney, community leader and soldier James Curtis Rinaman Jr. died Jan. 26. He was 88.
Rinaman distinguished himself as a trial advocate, community leader, military officer and a leader in the legal community.
He was counsel for the Duval County Legislative Delegation in 1965 and 1967 and for state Senate President John E. Mathews in 1969.
One of the most influential architects of Jacksonville’s consolidated government, in 1966 Rinaman was a member of the Local Government Study Commission of Duval County, chair of its Public Utilities Task Force and a member of the Charter Drafting Committee. In 1967, he was chief counsel for the delegation for passage of the charter.
Rinaman was general counsel for the consolidated city of Jacksonville under former Mayor Hans Tanzler Jr. from 1969 to 1971.
He chaired the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce, now JAX Chamber, in 1993, the year the NFL awarded Jacksonville a franchise: the Jaguars.
He also served as president of the Meninak Club of Jacksonville and other organizations.
Rinaman was committed to service to the legal profession. He was president of the Jacksonville Bar Association, The Florida Bar, the Florida Defense Lawyers Association and the Association of Defense Trial Lawyers.
Rinaman was a lieutenant in the U.S. Army from 1955-57 and an officer in the Florida Army National Guard from 1957 until he retired with the rank of brigadier general in 1992.
He is survived by his wife of more than 65 years, Gloria, two sons, two daughters, and 10 grandchildren.
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