Robert W. Merkle, Jr. (1944-2003 [1] ) was an American attorney who served as U.S. Attorney in the Middle District of Florida from 1982 to 1988. [2] [3] He also ran for governor of Florida and in the Republican primary for a U.S. Senate seat. He prosecuted drug lords, politicians, and judges. [4]
Merkle went to St. Leo Preparatory School outside Tampa where he was an accomplished athlete. He received a football scholarship to Notre Dame where he played fullback during his junior year before being sidelined by injuries his senior year. [4]
He worked as a prosecutor for the Justice Department and as an assistant state attorney in the Pasco-Pinellas county circuit before being appointed U.S. attorney in April 1982. He was an outspoken opponent of abortion. [4]
He lost to Connie Mack III in the Republican Primary for the 1988 United States Senate election in Florida. [5]
He was U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida. [6]
Merkle was Catholic. He and his wife, Angela, had nine children. [4]