The Law Offices of Cobb & Cole

Attorney Thomas T. Cobb was hailed as "a giant among men" for the impression he left on this area as word of his death Thursday morning spread throughout the state. He was 87 years old.

The former legislator and city attorney, who died after a short bout with pneumonia, is credited with crafting the legislative deal that led to the construction of Daytona International Speedway. Longtime associates also recalled his efforts to clean up corruption in local government and to build one of Volusia County's oldest and largest law practices, Cobb & Cole. He retired from that firm in 1997.

Dr. Hart Long of Daytona Beach, who served for eight years on the City Commission in the 1950s while Cobb was city attorney, recalled how Cobb helped clean up voter fraud by devising a postcard signature system that prevented people from using the identities of dead people to cast extra votes.

"There's nobody alive or dead you could trust more to be on the right side of things," said Long, 83, who also served as mayor for two years. "He was just about as fine a character as I have ever known."

His former partner, Warren Cole, mourned the loss. "He was one of the great, great people in my life because he had such integrity and he was so smart," said Cole, 78, who joined Cobb in the practice in 1950. Cobb, a Mainland High School graduate, joined his father's practice soon after his 1939 graduation from Stetson University. He practiced alone after his father's death in 1940 and started the partnership, Cobb & Cole, in 1950. Some of the contributions to the community his associates recalled Thursday included getting roads built, advocating for the city manager form of government in Daytona Beach, and providing free representation for clients such as Bethune-Cookman College. He also helped make the Presbyterian Church's Westminster Retirement Communities a reality.

"He was the backbone and the inspiration of our firm -- for sure," said Sam Bell, 65, of Tallahassee, a former partner in the law firm that Cobb co-founded. "He was also a clear leader and a conscience of the community . . . And, in his prime, he was the best all-around lawyer I've ever seen."

Cobb's most visible legacy in the community is the Daytona International Speedway. He drafted the legislation in 1953 to create the Daytona Beach Racing and Recreation Facilities District, which ultimately built the Speedway. Dan Warren, a Daytona Beach attorney who collaborated with Cobb in this effort, said Cobb went into action as soon as Bill France informed the City Commission there wouldn't be any more racing on the beach.

"(Cobb) realized the importance of continuing (Daytona Beach's) early fame that had come about as a result of automobile racing on the beach, which wealthy visitors used to entertain themselves," Warren said. "He was dedicated to making sure that was perpetuated for future generations."

Herb Sussman, who has been involved with the Racing and Recreation Facilities Commission for 34 years and now serves as its chairman, said he admired Cobb as "diligent and astute." "Even if you disagreed with him, he was the kind of man you had to respect because he stood up for what he believed," Sussman said.

Cobb is credited with having the vision to move the Turkey Run, a rapidly growing fall car show, to the Speedway. Later, a second event, the Spring Speedway Spectacular, was also moved there. Cobb's clients spoke of their admiration Thursday. "He kept our tail out of trouble," said Herbert M. "Tippen" Davidson Jr., president, chief executive officer and co-editor of The Daytona Beach News-Journal. Cobb was the newspaper's chief council, a member of its board and corporate secretary for 30 years. "I can remember a lot of instances in which he got the heat turned off. He was not the least bit timid in resisting raids on the paper."

Jon Kaney, general counsel to the News-Journal Corp. and a senior partner with Cobb & Cole, recalled Cobb as a visionary in the way he designed the practice that bears his name. He was the first in the area to forge a partnership in which the attorneys functioned together, rather than simply as lawyers independently practicing under the same roof. When Cobb went to lunch, Kaney said, everyone within sight was invited. "You just loved him as a man," Kaney said. Kaney recalled that Cobb's rivals had something to reckon with, however. "Tom was a gentle soul you'd better not mess with."