Florida Senate - 2009 (NP) SR 2742
By Senator Lawson
6-03529-09 20092742__
1 Senate Resolution
2 A resolution honoring the life and legacy of Floridian
3 of the Century Governor LeRoy Collins on the occasion
4 of the 100th anniversary of his birth.
5
6 WHEREAS, Thomas LeRoy Collins was born in Tallahassee on
7 March 10, 1909, and
8 WHEREAS, in 1934, LeRoy Collins was elected to the Florida
9 House, where he served until 1940, when he was elected to the
10 Florida Senate, and
11 WHEREAS, Leroy Collins served with honor and dignity in the
12 Florida Senate, where he twice received the title of “Most
13 Valuable Senator,” resigning to fight with the United States
14 Navy in World War II, and then returned to serve until 1954, and
15 WHEREAS, Leroy Collins was sworn in as the 33rd Governor of
16 the State of Florida on January 4, 1955, as the civil rights
17 movement entered a tumultuous era following the ruling of the
18 United States Supreme Court in Brown v. Board of Education, and
19 WHEREAS, despite his initial disagreement with the high
20 court’s ruling in that case, Governor LeRoy Collins strongly
21 opposed attempts on the part of the Florida Legislature to
22 subvert the authority of the court through a policy known as
23 interposition, writing after the Legislature passed a resolution
24 that was not subject to veto,
25 “(I)f this resolution declaring the decisions of the
26 court to be ‘null and void’ is to be taken seriously,
27 it is anarchy and rebellion against the nation which
28 must remain ‘indivisible under God’ if it is to
29 survive. Not only will I not condone ‘interposition’
30 as so many have sought me to do, I decry it as an evil
31 thing, whipped up by the demagogues and carried on the
32 hot and erratic winds of passion, prejudice, and
33 hysteria. If history judges me right this day, I want
34 it known that I did my best to avert this blot,” and
35 WHEREAS, Governor LeRoy Collins’ courageous leadership and
36 legacy lives on in the 21st Century in the hearts and daily
37 lives of all Floridians by virtue of the causes and legislation
38 he championed and advanced, including:
39 — Civil rights, human rights, and the rule of law;
40 — The advancement of race relations and opportunity and
41 equal protection for all;
42 — “Government in the Sunshine;”
43 — Education, advocating for additional funding, creating
44 Florida’s community college system, and launching the University
45 of South Florida and Florida Atlantic University;
46 — Ethics in government;
47 — Transportation and the state turnpike systems;
48 — Environmental stewardship and the state parks system;
49 — Economic diversification;
50 — Apportionment and redistricting to achieve fair voting;
51 — Moral and ethical principles for justice and the greater
52 good;
53 — Compassionate care for those with disabilities;
54 — Issues regarding the death penalty;
55 — Proper display of the Florida flag; and
56 — Public service the Florida Civil Service System, and
57 WHEREAS, Governor LeRoy Collins personified honor and good
58 government, and is a worthy recipient of the title “Floridian of
59 the Century,” and
60 WHEREAS, the month of April 2009, which has been designated
61 as “Florida Service Learning Month” by Governor Charlie Crist,
62 is an appropriate time to publicly recognize and honor the
63 service of Governor LeRoy Collins to the people of the State of
64 Florida, NOW, THEREFORE,
65
66 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
67
68 That the Senate honors the legacy of Governor LeRoy
69 Collins, a visionary leader who possessed an uncommon
70 understanding of the common man’s plight, stood fast on
71 principle and decency, and avoided taking the road of political
72 expediency, but instead choosing to forge a path of public
73 service that stands as a beacon for elected officials
74 everywhere.
75 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate recognizes 2009, the
76 centennial year of the birth of Governor LeRoy Collins, as a
77 year of inspiration and aspiration for all youth, students, and
78 educators involved in Florida Service Learning and for all
79 Floridians.
80 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution, with
81 the Seal of the Senate affixed, be presented to the family of
82 Governor LeRoy Collins as a tangible token of the sentiments of
83 the Florida Senate.