E. Bert Riddle

E. Bert Riddle
E. Bert Riddle
	Riddle in 1961
Member of the; Florida House of Representatives; from Holmes County
	In office; 1921
Member of the; Florida House of Representatives; from Walton County
	In office; 1941
	In office; 1961 – May 24, 1961
Member of the Florida Senate from the 3rd district
	In office; 1945–1947
Personal details
Born	September 17, 1893
Died	March 17, 1979 (aged 85)
Political party	Democratic

E. Bert Riddle (September 17, 1893^[2] – March 17, 1979) was an American politician. He served as a Democratic member of the Florida House of Representatives.^[3] He also served as a member for the 3rd district of the Florida Senate.^[4]

Riddle was arrested on moral charges in October 1947 for improper conduct towards a 12-year-old girl in a school where he was the principal.^[5] He had already resigned as principal at the time of his arrest.^[5] He was tried the same month on October 23, found guilty and sentenced to three years in prison.^[6] He appealed the sentence to the Florida Supreme court and in January 1948 he qualified to stand for re-election to the senate.^[7] He lost both his bid for re-election and his appeal June 1948.^[8]

In January 1960 Riddle declared that he was going to run again for his senate seat,^[9] but in May he lost to Clyde Galloway.^[10] He then stood again for the House in the 1961 special general election in Broward County, Florida^[11] which he won in February.^[12]

Riddle was expelled unanimously from the House on May 24, 1961 after being accused of sending an indecent note to a 12-year-old female page.^[13]^[1] He was taken into custody by the police upon leaving the chamber but was later released with no formal charges.^[14]

He died on March 17, 1979, at the age of 65 at his home in Holmes County, Florida. He was survived by his wife, Ethel Riddle, and seven of his children.^[15]

References

^ ^a ^b "The People of Lawmaking Florida 1822 – 2019" (PDF), Florida Legislature, February 2019
^ Florida Highways: Volume 13, J. E. Robinson, 1944
^ Ward, Robert (August 3, 2011). "Membership of the Florida House of Representatives by County 1845-2012" (PDF). Florida House of Representatives. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 16, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2023 – via Wayback Machine.
^ "Florida Senators 1845-2001". Archived from the original on March 19, 2007. Retrieved July 29, 2023 – via Wayback Machine.
^ ^a ^b "Senator Arrested On Moral Charges". The Tampa Times. October 10, 1947. p. 3. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
^ "Preacher-Senator Gets Prison Term on Moral Charges". The Waco News-Tribune. October 24, 1947. p. 17. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
^ "Sentenced Solon Seeks Re-Election". The Columbus Ledger. February 1, 1948. p. 5. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
^ "Riddle Penalty Upheld By Court". Tallahassee Democrat. June 30, 1948. p. 1. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
^ "Bert Riddle To Run Again". Tallahassee Democrat. January 27, 1960. p. 14. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
^ "Senate Gets Three New Faces While Four In House Ousted". The Orlando Sentinel. May 26, 1960. p. 19. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
^ "Broward, Walton County General Election Set". The Tampa Tribune. January 7, 1961. p. 9. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
^ "Riddle, David Win State Posts". The Miami Herald. February 9, 1961. p. 25. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
^ "LEGISLATURE RARELY PUNISHES ONE OF ITS OWN". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
^ "Riddle Is Expelled On Moral Charge". News-Press. May 25, 1961. p. 1. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
^ "Obituary for E. Bert Riddle". The Pensacola News. March 19, 1979. p. 4. Retrieved July 29, 2023.

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[floridamemory-1] "The People of Lawmaking Florida 1822 – 2019" (PDF), Florida Legislature, February 2019

[2] Florida Highways: Volume 13, J. E. Robinson, 1944

[a-3] Ward, Robert (August 3, 2011). "Membership of the Florida House of Representatives by County 1845-2012" (PDF). Florida House of Representatives. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 16, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2023 – via Wayback Machine.

[4] "Florida Senators 1845-2001". Archived from the original on March 19, 2007. Retrieved July 29, 2023 – via Wayback Machine.

[arrested-5] "Senator Arrested On Moral Charges". The Tampa Times. October 10, 1947. p. 3. Retrieved July 29, 2023.

[guilty-6] "Preacher-Senator Gets Prison Term on Moral Charges". The Waco News-Tribune. October 24, 1947. p. 17. Retrieved July 29, 2023.

[7] "Sentenced Solon Seeks Re-Election". The Columbus Ledger. February 1, 1948. p. 5. Retrieved July 29, 2023.

[8] "Riddle Penalty Upheld By Court". Tallahassee Democrat. June 30, 1948. p. 1. Retrieved July 29, 2023.

[9] "Bert Riddle To Run Again". Tallahassee Democrat. January 27, 1960. p. 14. Retrieved July 29, 2023.

[10] "Senate Gets Three New Faces While Four In House Ousted". The Orlando Sentinel. May 26, 1960. p. 19. Retrieved July 29, 2023.

[11] "Broward, Walton County General Election Set". The Tampa Tribune. January 7, 1961. p. 9. Retrieved July 29, 2023.

[12] "Riddle, David Win State Posts". The Miami Herald. February 9, 1961. p. 25. Retrieved July 29, 2023.

[13] "LEGISLATURE RARELY PUNISHES ONE OF ITS OWN". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved July 29, 2023.

[14] "Riddle Is Expelled On Moral Charge". News-Press. May 25, 1961. p. 1. Retrieved July 29, 2023.

[15] "Obituary for E. Bert Riddle". The Pensacola News. March 19, 1979. p. 4. Retrieved July 29, 2023.

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