Roy L McLendon Jr.

Roy Lee McLendon, Jr. age 85 passed away on May 1, 2012 after an extended illness. Born in Midville, Georgia he, his Father and Mother moved to Quincy when he was three months old where he lived until he joined the U.S. Navy. During World War II he served in the South Pacific aboard a high speed transport destroyer, USS Ringness (APD-100). He was tentatively discharged from military service in June 1946 which was extended an additional 5 years in the active reserve. He was one of the first male students enrolled at the Tallahassee branch of the University of Florida, which was later spurred the creation of Florida State University. After college he became employed with the Florida Industrial Commission which was later known as the Department of Labor & Employment Security. He retired as an Administrator of Unemployment Compensation Claims Operations after 38 years of consecutive service. While employed he served on the Interstate Claims Committee of the Department of Labor for two years with meetings in Washington, D.C. He also served as Coordinator of the first disaster program for the nine county area in south Florida in locating and setting up emergency centers. He was involved in transferring qualified staff from other claims offices and the hiring of emergency centers staffing. This disaster was caused by cold weather damaging the vegetable and fruit crops and laster over nine weeks resulting in the unemployment of 30,000 workers in south Florida. Shortly after retirement, Roy worked for several organizations throughout the nation engaged in providing accounting and management services to employers. His particular assignment consisted of litigating unemployment compensation appeals hearings on behalf of an employer. He also served as the coordinator of retired Department of Labor and Employment Security associates at monthly meetings since June 1986. Roy was most interested in his USS Ringness shipmates after attending their first reunion in Norfolk, VA in October 1990. Since that date through 2000 he served as the coordinator for annual reunions for his ship. He was deeply involved in the rescue of survivors of the USS Indianapolis (CA-35), a heavy cruiser, which was sunk in the South Pacific July 30, 1945 by a Japanese submarine after delivery of the first atomic bomb later used on Hiroshima, Japan. Only 317 of the total crew of 1197 survived which was labeled the greatest Naval sea disaster of World War II. In 2001 the crews of several rescue ships united and officially became the Indianapolis Rescue & Recovery Association where he has served and continued to serve as the President/CEO of this national organization. Roy was an avid fan of the Florida State Seminoles football and baseball teams. He and his wife held season tickets for the football games for over 45 years. His hobbies consisted of fishing, camping, and gardening. He is survived by his wife, Etta, and four children, Rosilyn D. McLendon of Apalachicola, Randall L. (wife Patty) McLendon of Jacksonville, Roger A. McLendon and Tiffany Ann Hallmark of Tallahassee. He has 9 Grandchildren, and two great great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Roy L. and Eula G. McLendon of Quincy.

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Roy L McLendon Jr.

May 9, 1926 - May 1, 2012