William McAbee

William Whitman McAbee was a man of many interests and strengths who passed away in June of 2002. He was born and raised in Georgia and attended an all-male public high school, the Academy of Richmond County, which had a military history. He enlisted in the army at the age of 17 and served during World War II in Belgium. After returning home, William McAbee attended the University of Georgia, where he played baseball and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration. After graduation, he and his wife, Paula, enrolled at the University of Florida, where they both graduated with master’s degrees in education. During this time, the pair began what would be a lifelong devotion to the Georgia Bulldogs and the Florida Gators.

While Paula focused on teaching, William took the CPA exam and then started his own accounting firm in Pensacola, Florida. He managed the firm from 1954 until 1997, at which point he sold it and retired. In addition to accounting, he was also active in real estate and invested in properties in Gulf Breeze, Florida. In his free time, he enjoyed playing golf and attending Gator football games. After his death, he was buried in the Barrancas National Cemetery at the Pensacola Naval Air Station.