Early Life
Chiles was born in Polk County, Florida near Lakeland, the son of Margaret Kate (née Patterson) and Lawton Mainor Chiles. In Polk, he attended public school, then went on to the University of Florida at Gainesville. At the University of Florida, he was active in student politics, and was inducted into both the university Hall of Fame (the most prestigious honor a student can receive at UF) and Florida Blue Key. He was also a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. He graduated in 1952. Following his college years, he entered the Korean War as an artillery officer in the United States Army. After the war, Chiles returned to the University of Florida for law school, from which he graduated in 1955; he passed the state bar exam that year and went into private practice in Lakeland. He was married to Rhea Chiles.
Read more about this topic: Lawton Chiles
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