Individual Details

Death

RENTZ ,WILLIAM CARL II, DOB: July 22, 1941, DOD: September 30, 2012, is now reunited with his mother and father in the glorious presence of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Born and raised in Miami, Carl also made Miami and Coral Gables his home for 30 years. Carl attended Coral Gables High School and graduated from The McCallie School in Tennessee with honors. His high school career included prowess in football and baseball. He was selected as team captain, All-City, All-State and All-Southern in both sports. Carl attended the University of Florida and was a brother in the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. He completed his undergraduate degree at Stetson University in Deland, Florida. Carl then moved to Florida's West Coast when he was accepted to Stetson's Law School in St. Petersburg, Florida. Although studies consumed a lot of Carl's time, he also pursued his love of back-country fishing in the Tampa St. Pete bountiful waters. After graduating from law school with honors, Carl returned to Coral Gables where he began his law career with Preddy, Haddad, Kutner and Hardy in 1966 after passing the Florida Bar exam on his 25th birthday . Handling over 200 cases, Carl learned quickly and in 1970, formed his own firm, Rentz, McClellan and Haggard, P.A. In 1973, Carl, Ed McClellan and Andy Haggard, as bright, young attorneys, earned the respect of the legal profession nationwide by their successful jury verdict for client, Greg Stead, a high school football player who suffered spinal cord injuries from tackling an opponent. At age 16, Greg Stead was a quadrapalygic for life. Carl sued Rydell Company for improper football helmet design. The 12-person jury rendered a $5.3 million verdict against Rydell in favor of Greg Stead which was the largest personal injury ever awarded at that time. Greg Stead, from his wheelchair, earned his own law degree from the University of Miami. The national legal community bestowed its prestigious invitation to Carl for membership in the Inner Circle in 1975 and later in his career was inducted into the Litigation Council of America, Trial Lawyer Society. Carl practiced law with intensity and a ferocious commitment to excellence and victories for his clients. Carl "worked hard and played hard" in his pursuit to perfect the skill of back-country fishing with a fly rod. He accomplished the "Big Three" which is, catching the most prized back-country sports fish, Tarpon, Bonefish and Permit on a "fly"! Carl almost became the world's first angler to catch a 200 pound tarpon on fly. In June of 1981, while fishing in Homosassa Springs with his friend and professional guide, Cecil Keith of Islamorada, Carl hooked a monster "silver king". He fought the fish for 6 hours covering several miles along the Crystal River coast. Carl finally maneuvered the giant 8 foot long tarpon alongside the boat. He and Cecil were hauling the fish into the boat when it made one last leap for freedom and was lost forever along with the legend. Carl loved to spend time fishing with his family and friends at his condominium in the Florida Keys. Tragedy struck Carl on August 8, 1992 when he was hit by a car while crossing US #1 as a pedestrian suffering a severe Traumatic Brain Injury from which he never recovered. Due to his disability, Carl's law firm closed in early 1996. Carl resided in Tampa, Florida at an ALF specializing in brain injured patients until he joined his mother and father, Bobbye F. Rentz and W. Carlton Rentz, M.D. with our Lord as well as his beloved grandmother, Era Mae Furr. Carl is survived by his daughter, Lorin A. Rentz, his sister, Carla Rentz Bost, his niece Ansley Bost Calhoun (John) and great nephews Coulter and John, his nephew Connor McCollum Bost, all of Charlotte, NC and his brother Larry Rentz (Lisa). Carl was loved by his family, friends and colleagues and will be forever remembered in our minds and hearts. "Tight lines to you son"..... it's all in "how you present the fly". A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, October 24, 2013 at 4:00 p.m. at Plymouth Congregational Church, 3400 Devon Road, Coconut Grove. A reception will follow the ceremony at Coral Reef Yacht Club, 2484 South Bayshore Drive. Please join our family in remembrance. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Miami, P.O. Box 330219, Miami, Florida 33233.
Published in Miami Herald on Oct. 20, 2013