TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL)--Former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno died Monday morning after a long battle with Parkinson's disease.
People in Tallahassee are remembering her life.
Reno spoke to a crowd at the Leroy Collins Library dedication in Tallahassee on September 17, 1993. Cay Hohmeister was working part time at the library and remembers the ceremony, the governors, and the people who came to meet Reno.
"People had questions. People had individuals they wanted to bring to her attention," said Hohmeister, the director of libraries for Leon County. "They wanted to give her their opinions. She was great. They gave everyone the attention they requested."
Martha Barnett, a partner at Holland and Knight, remembers seeing Reno at the Florida State Capitol in the 1970's. Their paths crossed
"She was there on criminal justice issues," said Barnett. "She was there about reforms in the criminal justice system. she had worked in the legislature and helped rewrite the laws that related to the court system. we had a constitutional amendment and she worked very closely with that."
Years went by, and Barnett says Reno was always apart of her life.
Barnett remembers Reno testifying on her handling of the raids in Waco, Texas.
"I vividly remember watching a federal congressional inquiry into that," said Barnett. "She said 'the buck stops with me.' She didn't blame it on anyone but herself but when times were tough and not successful she didn't blame on anyone but herself."
Close friend Sandy D'Alemberte says Reno was like a sister.
"Janet wouldn't take any favors from anyone," said D'Alemberte, a former Florida State University president who currently teaches at the law school.
Barnett adds she put public ahead of private interests, and she will never be forgotten.
