Great Floridian is a title bestowed upon notable citizens in the state of Florida by the Florida Department of State. There were two formal programs.
Great Floridians 2000 The Florida Department of State and the Florida League of Cities created the program in 1998 to help celebrate the approaching end of the millennium. The process dedicated a special series of commemorative panels in cities throughout the state recognizing deceased individuals who made significant contributions to the history and culture of Florida. A total of 385 persons were honored.
Great Floridians Program In 2007, the legislature resurrected, revised and formalized Great Floridians in Florida law as Florida Statute 267.0731. A defined committee consisting of the top members of the Executive and Legislative branches of government meets each year to nominate citizens for designation. The Florida Secretary of State then selects at least two nominees for the honor. As of 2011, 58 people had been included.Browning, Kurt S.: "2009 Great Floridians Designated During Florida Heritage Month" Florida Department of State Press Release, March 19, 2009Browning, Kurt S.: "Florida Heritage Award Honorees Announced" Florida Department of State Press Release, March 25, 2010
Governor Rick Scott added 22 names in 2013, including former Miami Dolphins Coach Don Shula, former University of Florida Gators football player and coach Steve Spurrier, 2012 Masters golf champion Bubba Watson Jr., former Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard Ervin, and Dr. Pedro Jose Greer Jr., an advocate for homeless and the disadvantaged in Miami, as well as Betty Sembler of St. Petersburg, who championed drug treatment efforts, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Tony Dungy, General Norman Schwarzkopf, who led U.S. forces in Iraq, former state agriculture commissioner Charles Bronson, former state treasurer Bill Gunter, Walt Disney, Patrick D. Smith, agricultural leader Ruth Springer Wedgworth, former Buccaneers linebacker Derrick Brooks, Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith, former Florida Supreme Court Justice Alto Adams, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León, retired General Craig McKinley, clothing designer Lilly Pulitzer, entrepreneur H. Wayne Huizenga, and James Robert Cade, an American physician, university professor, research scientist, and inventor who led research efforts that developed Gatorade.
Great Floridians Program (on-going)
Full Name Attribute YearBob Graham Florida Governor and U.S. Senator 2016Alto Adams Florida Supreme Court Justice 2013Derrick Brooks Outstanding Linebacker for the Florida State University Seminoles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2013Charles Bronson Florida Agriculture Commissioner (2001-2010) 2013Robert Cade Inventor of Gatorade 2013Walt Disney Co-founder of Walt Disney World Resort, which changed Florida forever 2013Tony Dungy former NFL Player and Coach 2013Richard W. Ervin Jr. Florida Attorney General from 1948–64; Florida Supreme Court Justice 1964-75 2013Pedro José Greer, Jr. Florida International University School of Medicine chairman; founder, Camillus Health Concern & St. John Bosco Clinic 2013Bill Gunter Florida State Senator 1966-72; United States House of Representatives from 1973–75; Florida insurance commissioner, treasurer and fire marshal 1976-88. 2013Wayne Huizenga Founder of Waste Management, Blockbuster Video and AutoNation; owner of Florida Marlins and Florida Panthers 2013Juan Ponce de León Spanish founder of Florida 1508Charlotte Maguire Mother of the FSU Medical School 2013Craig McKinley Four-star general 2013Lilly Pulitzer Clothing designer 2013Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr. Four-star general 2013Betty Schlesinger Sembler Drug treatment advocate 2013Don Shula Miami Dolphins head coach 2013Emmitt Smith University of Florida Gators running back; NFL Hall of Famer 2013Patrick D. Smith Novelist 2013Steve Spurrier 1966 Heisman Trophy winner and former head football coach of the University of Florida Gators 2013Tim TebowGovernor designates Tim Tebow a Great Floridian, by Hays Carlyon, Florida Times-Union, April 12, 2013 Heisman Trophy winner (2007), College & Professional Football player, Motivational speaker, Role model 2013Gerry Lester "Bubba" Watson, Jr. PGA golfer 2013Ruth Springer Wedgworth Distinguished figure in Florida agriculture 2013Albert H. Blanding Business & Civic leader, Army officer awarded the Distinguished Service Medal 2012Bobby Bowden Florida State University Seminoles football head coach (1976–2009) 2012Caroline Mays Brevard Educator, Historian and Author 2012Jeb Bush Florida's 43rd Governor 1999-2007 2012Bernardo de Gálvez Spanish military leader who helped drive the British from the Gulf Coast following the American Revolution 2012James M. Gavin US Army Lieutenant general during World War II 2012Frederick B. Karl Lawyer, State Representative, State Senator, Florida Supreme Court Justice 2012Thomas Alva Edison Inventor, Scientist & Businessman2011Bob Graham Florida's 38th Governor 1979-1987 and United States Senator 1987-2005 2011George W. Jenkins Founder of Publix Supermarkets 2011Toni Jennings Teacher, Florida State Representative, Florida State Senator, Senate President and Lieutenant Governor 2011Harrison Reed Florida's 9th Governor 1868-1873 2011Nathaniel Pryor Reed Assistant to Governor Kirk 1967-1971, Assistant United States Secretary of the Interior 1971-1977 2011Marshall E. "Doc" Rinker, Sr. Founder, Rinker Group 2011Jim Smith Lawyer, Florida Attorney General, Florida Secretary of State, Chairman of the Florida State University Trustees 2011Park Trammell Florida's 21st Governor 1913-1917 and United States Senator 1917-1936 2011Sandy D'Alemberte American Bar Association president & Florida State University president (1994–2003) 2010Paula Hawkins Consumer Advocate and US Senator from Florida 1981-1987 2010Joseph Patrick Hurley Roman Catholic Archbishop 2010Tony Jannus First commercial airline pilot & parachutist 2010David McCampbell World War II Ace Navy Pilot 2010Sarah D. McKay Lakeland Philanthropist 2010Eddie Rickenbacker World War I Ace Pilot & Medal of Honor recipient 2010Pedro Menendez de Aviles Spanish Admiral and explorer 2009Bob Martinez Florida's 40th Governor 1987-1991 2009Mae McMillan Educator and founder of Pine Crest School 2009Eugene Patterson Newspaperman & Civil Rights Advocate 2009Charlie W. Pierce Early Florida Settler 2009Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Author of The Yearling 2009E. Clay Shaw, Jr. US Representative 1981-2007 2008May Mann Jennings Women's Rights activist, Environmentalist & children's welfare advocate 2008 Harry T. Moore Civil rights activist 2007 Connie Mack III US Senator 1989-2001 & US Representative 1983–1989 2007 Richard Keith Call Florida's 3rd & 5th Territorial Governor 2006 Julia DeForest Sturtevant Tuttle "Mother of Miami" 2006 William Pope Duval Florida's 1st Territorial Governor 1822-1834 2005 Al Hoffman Philanthropist & Civic Leader 2005 Spessard Holland Florida's 28th Governor 1941-1945 2004 Fuller Warren Florida's 30th Governor 1949-1953 2004 Mary Call Darby Collins Lifelong Preservationist 2003 Henry Morrison Flagler Industrialist and Developer 2003 Zora Neale Hurston Writer and Folklorist 2003 Henry Plant Industrialist and Developer 2003 James Alward Van Fleet Combat Commander & Four-Star General 2002 Mary McLeod Bethune Educator and Activist 2002 John Gorrie Physician, Scientist and Inventor 2002 William Henry Getty (Bill) France NASCAR Founder and Motor Sports Promoter 2002 Richard (Dick) Pope Cypress Gardens Founder & Tourism Promoter 2002 Mallory E. Horne Florida House Speaker and Senate President 2002 Horacio Aguirre Publisher, Journalist & Editor of Diario Las Americas 2001 Lawton M. Chiles Florida's 41st Governor 1991-1998 & US Senator 1971-1989 2001 Reubin O'D. Askew Florida's 37th Governor 1971-1979 1998 William Patrick Foster Bandleader, Florida A&M "Marching 100" 1998 Chesterfield Smith Justice Advocate & Florida's First American Bar Association President 1997 E. T. York Florida University System Chancellor & IFAS Founder 1997 Cecil Farris Bryant Florida's 34th Governor 1961-1965 1994 George A. Smathers US Senator 1951-1969 1994 Stephen C. O'Connell Florida Supreme Court Justice 1966-1967 & UF President 1967-1973 1993 B. K. Roberts Three-Time Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court 1990 Chester Howell Ferguson Attorney, Business & Civic Leader 1988 Claude Denson Pepper US Senator 1936-1951 & US Representative 1963-1989 1988 Ben Hill Griffin, Jr. Citrus Baron, Civic Leader & Benefactor 1987 Marjory Stoneman Douglas Writer and Environmental Activist 1987 Alonzo "Jake" Gaither Head Football Coach, Florida A&M University 1984Thomas LeRoy Collins Florida's 33rd Governor 1955-1961 1981
Great Floridians 2000 (program ended in 2000)