Patrick Emmanuel, WWII hero and former Florida Bar president, dies at 104
Emmanuel’s unit entered the war in Europe on July 24, 1944, when it landed at Omaha Beach. On August 29, 1944, the battalion marched down the Avenue des Champs-Elysees past the Arc de Triomphe in the parade celebrating the liberation of Paris. That afternoon, they took up front line positions and were again fighting the Germans near St. Denis. His unit helped liberate France, Belgium, and Luxembourg.
Patrick Emmanuel
Patrick Emmanuel, a distinguished World War II veteran, former president of The Florida Bar, and pillar of the Pensacola legal community, has passed away at the age of 104.
From his heroic service in Europe to his influential leadership in Florida’s legal sphere, Emmanuel’s life was marked by dedication, service, and unwavering commitment to justice and community.
“Mr. Emmanuel was and is a lawyer’s lawyer,” said former Bar President Alan Bookman in 2020 when the city of Pensacola honored Emmanuel at Veterans Memorial Park in honor of his 100th birthday. “His clients, some of whom he represented for over 50 years, would not make any decision until they ‘ran it past Pat.’”
A partner in Emmanuel’s firm, Bookman, who preceded Emmanuel in death in 2021, said at the time, “I could not have had a better mentor, not only in the practice of law but also in life. Pat, by his actions and not his words, showed me and many young lawyers how to properly represent a client ethically and professionally and how to treat other lawyers, litigants, and the court with dignity. To Pat, the law is a noble profession and should not be viewed as a job.”
Bookman added, “Sometimes I did not know how Pat had the time to practice as lawyers in our office and other offices constantly would ask Pat for advice on how to handle a particular matter.”
Born in Pensacola on January 25, 1920, to George Joseph Emmanuel and Mary Josephine Gibney Emmanuel, Emmanuel grew up in Cottage Hill and attended a two-room schoolhouse, the Cottage Hill Grammar School, which allowed him to skip two grades. Upon graduation from St. Michael’s High School, Emmanuel commenced his studies at the University of Florida at age 16. In 1940, he received his bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Since he was too young to accept his Army ROTC commission, Emmanuel began his legal studies at the University of Florida College of Law. After two years of law school, he served in the U.S. Army from 1941 to 1945. He was assigned to the 630th Tank Destroyer Battalion which was primarily attached to the 28th Infantry Division, the “Keystone” Division.
Emmanuel’s unit entered the war in Europe on July 24, 1944, when it landed at Omaha Beach, Normandy, France. On August 29, 1944, the battalion marched down the Avenue des Champs-Elysees past the Arc de Triomphe in the parade celebrating the liberation of Paris. That afternoon, they took up front line positions and were again fighting the Germans near St. Denis. His unit helped liberate France, Belgium, and Luxembourg.
During the battle of Hurtgen Forest, his unit experienced “some of the most intense warfare known to man.” Emmanuel’s unit helped hold the Vossenack Ridge. In this fierce struggle, the Germans began calling the Keystones the “Bloody Bucket” and from that time, the 28th Infantry Division was nicknamed the “Bloody Bucket Division.”
Starting on December 16, 1944, the battalion fought in the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes, one of the major battles of WWII. Outgunned, badly outnumbered, and frequently out of communications, the division and battalion fought a bloody but effective delaying action that completely disrupted the German plans for a rapid advance and capture of Bastogne, allowing the 101st Airborne to win the race for that vital road junction.
The cost was high. In “A Time for Trumpets,” a detailed account of the Battle of the Bulge, military historian Charles B. MacDonald listed the 28th Division’s heavy losses in the first two days, including, “the 630th Tank Destroyer Battalion lost most of its men and all but six of its towed guns” (a full-strength battalion would have 36). Emmanuel was awarded the Bronze Star for his actions during the battle.
The unit also fought at Colmar and the Ruhr Pocket. They continued fighting in France and Germany until V-E Day on May 8, 1945. In July of 1945, the 630th Tank Destroyer Battalion was redeployed to the U.S. Emmanuel was discharged from the Army with the rank of major upon the conclusion of WWII in Europe.
“These were the days that tried men’s endurance and units’ fighting stamina,” Emmanuel wrote in a 10-page summary of the battalion’s WWII experiences. “The 630th never faltered in either respect. Clerks, cooks, rear echelon personnel — all were given new jobs calling for guts and ability.”
(Emmanuel’s account may be found here.)
Emmanuel completed his L.L.B. (predecessor to J.D.) at the University of Florida College of Law in 1946. Upon graduating, he returned to Pensacola and joined the law firm of Holsberry and Holsberry. In a 2010 interview, Emmanuel said, “My beginning pay was $35. Not $35 an hour, not $35 a day, but $35 a week.” In 1947, he was made partner, and the firm’s name was changed to Holsberry, Holsberry and Emmanuel. It later became Emmanuel, Sheppard and Condon, which is celebrating its 111th anniversary this year.
Emmanuel concentrated his legal practice in real estate, corporate, banking, healthcare law, construction law, wills and estates, and business litigation.
In addition to his busy practice, Emmanuel was elected to the Board of Governors in 1968 and served until 1974. When the First Circuit seat came open in 1982, his fellow lawyers urged him to run again and then for Bar president-elect in 1984. He won a three-way race in a runoff and became Bar president in June 1985 — right after the Board of Governors voted to ask the Supreme Court to establish the initial continuing legal education requirement.
Emmanuel opposed the mandatory requirement but saw his job as president to implement the program and provide quality programs at low or no cost to lawyers to enable them to comply with the requirement.
He also streamlined board meetings and began the practice of having the president preside over the entire meeting, rather than have Board of Governors committee chairs control discussion and debate during their reports. Emmanuel’s goal was to use the saved time to allow more participation and debate on important issues.
He was president of The Florida Bar Foundation from 1971-1973. He served on the Federal Judicial Nomination Commission of Florida as chair and member from 1974-1981. In 1987, he was awarded The Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award.
In 2001, The Florida Bar Foundation awarded Emmanuel its Medal of Honor. Emmanuel was AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell. He was a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, and the American Bar Association. Emmanuel retired from the practice of law on May 2, 2014, at the age of 94.
On May 15, 1948, Patrick married the love of his life, Olivia Bobe Cooke. They were married for 74 years. Patrick worked hard to support his family and was able to send his seven children to college. Emmanuel and his wife enjoyed traveling, with multiple trips to Chicago, New York, California, and Europe.
Emmanuel was a devout Catholic and a long-time member of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. For many years, he was an active member of the Knights of Columbus. His church awards included the “Knight of St. Gregory” bestowed by Pope John XXIII in 1960. He twice was honored with the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice by Pope John Paul II in 1980 and 2000. He was also named an honorary member of the religious order of the Daughters of Charity in recognition of his service and contributions to Sacred Heart Hospital.
Throughout his life, Emmanuel was extensively involved in civic activities in the Pensacola community. At the 43rd annual PACE Awards in 2002, the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce gave Emmanuel its “Spirit of Pensacola” Award. The Combined Rotary Clubs of Pensacola and the UWF College of Business awarded Patrick its “Ethics in Business” Award in 2004. For many years, Emmanuel served on the board of directors and as pro bono legal counsel for Northwest Florida Children’s Home, and on the Advisory Board of Sacred Heart Hospital.
Emmanuel grew up during the Depression, lost his mother at age 9, lost his father at age 22. A strong faith, hard work and a sense of duty and fair play guided him throughout his lifetime.
Emmanuel is preceded in death by his wife, Olivia Bobe Emmanuel; his parents, George Joseph Emmanuel and Mary Josephine Gibney Emmanuel; his three siblings, Mary Catherine Emmanuel Towery, George Joseph Emmanuel, Jr., and Joseph Brunaugh Emmanuel; and two daughters, Mary Josephine Emmanuel Hanover and Suzanne Emmanuel.
He is survived by six children, Deborah Emmanuel, Patrick G. Emmanuel, Jr., (Christy), Robert Emmanuel (Karen) – all of Pensacola, Barbara Emmanuel (Bernie) of Atlanta, Stephen Emmanuel (Susan) of Tallahassee, and John Emmanuel (Patty) of Tampa; son-in-law, Dennis Hanover in Fort Collins, CO; and his 12 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
(This story was put together using an obituary provided by Emmanuel, Sheppard and Condon and past reporting that appeared in the pages of The Florida Bar News.)
