Thomas Gallen Explained

Thomas "Tom" Gallen, Jr.
Office:Florida House of Representatives
Term Start:1965
Term End:1972
Office2:Florida Senate
Term Start2:1972
Term End2:1978
Birth Date:28 December 1932
Birth Place:Tampa, Florida
Party:Democrat
Alma Mater:Florida State University, University of Florida
Occupation:Judge
Branch:Army
Serviceyears:1952-1955

Thomas "Tom" Gallen, Jr. (born December 28, 1932) is a retired Florida state legislator and circuit judge.

Early life and education

Gallen was born in Tampa, Florida in 1932.[1] He attended the University of Tampa, leaving during the Korean War in order to enlist in the Army Special Forces.[2] He was a member of the inaugural group of Green Berets formed in 1952 and deployed to Bad Tölz, Germany in 1953, serving until 1955.[3] After leaving the army he returned to school, receiving a BS in Business Administration from Florida State University and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Florida.[4] Gallen's father, Thomas Gallen, Sr., had been an attorney as well, practicing for only a few months before the Great Depression, then leaving law, but Gallen Jr. was never made aware of this fact until after his own graduation from law school.

Legal career and public service

Gallen was a law partner at the law firm of Miller Gallen Kaklis and Venable from 1960 to 1985.[5] During this period he also held public office, serving as a member of the Florida legislature for 12 years, first in the Florida House of Representatives, where he served from 1965–1972, before being elected to the Florida Senate.[6] [7] During his time in the Senate, he became chairman of the senate rules and calendar committee.[8] He served in the Florida Senate from 1972-1978 before leaving office, opting to return to practicing law rather than seeking reelection.[9] In 1985, he was elected to the 12th Judicial Circuit as a circuit judge, where he was elected as chief judge in 1998, and served until he retired in 2002.[10] In 2005, Judge Gallen received the Manatee County Bar lifetime achievement award.[11] He served as a senior circuit judge for the 12th Judicial Circuit and associate judge on the 2nd District Court of Appeals.[12] [13] In 2009, he issued a legal opinion that lead to the release of James Bain following 35 years in prison, after DNA evidence was used to prove he was wrongfully convicted of rape.[14] In 2013, Gallen was named to the Manatee County Rural Health Services board of directors.[15]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The State of Florida . The Florida Senate Yearbook - 1976-78 . 1976 .
  2. Wendy Dahle . Former Legislator Chosen As Chief . Sarasota Herald Tribune . Sarasota, FL . August 2, 1999 . 2013-04-02.
  3. Walter Powers . Ex-Green Beret Sees End To Elite Fighting Force . Sarasota Herald Tribune . Sarasota, FL . August 25, 1968 . 2013-04-02.
  4. Web site: Movers and Shakers: Judge Thomas Gallen Joins MCRH Board of Directors - TheBradentonTimes.com - Free News for Bradenton, FL and Manatee County . TheBradentonTimes.com . 2013-04-02 . dead . https://archive.today/20130615222436/http://www.thebradentontimes.com/news/2013/02/13/movers_and_shakers/movers_and_shakers_judge_thomas_gallen_joins_mcrh_board_of_directors/ . 2013-06-15 .
  5. Web site: Herald staff report . Judge Thomas Gallen joins Manatee County Rural Health Board of Directors | Local News | Bradenton Herald . Bradenton.com . 2013-04-02 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130317115508/http://www.bradenton.com/2013/02/07/4382732/judge-thomas-gallen-joins-manatee.html . 2013-03-17 .
  6. Web site: Wolfrum . Timothy R. . Cancer fight propelled commissioner-elect Gallen into politics | Top Stories | Bradenton Herald . Bradenton.com . 2010-08-26 . 2013-04-02.
  7. Tom Gallen Is Easy Winner In Manatee Senate Race . Sarasota Herald Tribune . Sarasota, FL . September 13, 1972 .
  8. Jim Curtis . Senator Gallen Can Use Influence To Benefit County . Sarasota Herald Tribune . Sarasota, FL . December 2, 1976 . 2013-04-02.
  9. Ed George and Russ Roberts . Gallen Senate Seat Sought by Rep. Neal . Sarasota Herald Tribune . Sarasota, FL . July 2, 1978 . 2013-04-02.
  10. Web site: Article: Manatee Bar Association honors Gallen, Williams.(B SECTION) | AccessMyLibrary - Promoting library advocacy . AccessMyLibrary . 2005-12-02 . 2013-04-02.
  11. Web site: Legal Roundup . Floridabar.org . 2005-08-01 . 2013-04-02.
  12. Web site: New Manatee County School District Superintendent Sworn In - TheBradentonTimes.com - Free News for Bradenton, FL and Manatee County . TheBradentonTimes.com . 2013-04-02 . dead . https://archive.today/20130615222522/http://www.thebradentontimes.com/news/2013/03/20/schools_and_education/new_manatee_county_school_district_superintendent_sworn_in/ . 2013-06-15 .
  13. News: Second District Court of Appeal . Lakeland, FL . 5 April 2013.
  14. Web site: Ruger . Todd . Judge meets man he helped to exonerate . HeraldTribune.com . 2013-04-05.
  15. Web site: Business People . HeraldTribune.com . 2013-04-02.

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