Former Dunklin County prosecutor passes away

A former Dunklin County prosecuting attorney and Bootheel native passed away on Monday, Dec. 5, 2011, leaving behind a distinguished law career that began at Malden, Mo.

Veryle Lee Riddle, 89, who was born near Campbell, Mo., in 1921, began his law career after receiving his Jurist Doctorate from Washington University at St. Louis, Mo., in 1948. He began practicing at Malden, where he was part of a private practice and became the prosecuting attorney for Dunklin County. After serving in Dunklin County for 17 years, he was appointed by President Lyndon Johnson to U.S. Attorny, Eastern District. He then went on to have a long career at the prominent St. Louis law firm, Bryan Cave.

In 2000, Southeast Missouri State University, through an endowment from the lawyer, started the annual Veryl L. Riddle Distinguished History Lecture.

In 2003, Riddle was inducted to the Dunklin County Library's Hall of Honor, a tribute for those who have had outstanding personal achievement and contributions to the growth and development of the area.

In 2006, Riddle was the recipient of the Award of Merit from the American College of Trial Laywers.

Riddle was also a veteran of World Ward II, having served in Military Intelligence, where he was undercover as a longshoreman in New York Harbor, gathering intelligence about enemy agents.

In 1985, he married his wife, Janet, who survives. The couple had four children -- one son and three daughter.

Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. until time of funeral at noon, Wednesday, Dec. 7, at Bethany Baptist Church in Campbell with Rev. Bryan Johnson officiating.

For a complete obituary, see page 5 of this edition of the Daily Dunklin Democrat.