Bob Graham Former Florida Governor and U.S. Senator Daniel Robert “Bob” Graham passed away on April 16th at age 87. Graham served in the Florida House of Representatives (1966-1970), Florida Senate (1970-1978), as Florida’s 38th Governor (1979-1987) and as a United States Senator (1987-2005). His reputation as a consensus-builder during nearly four decades of public service resulted in efforts to restore the Everglades and protect other natural treasurers, investment in public education, growth of Florida’s economy and strengthening of U.S. intelligence services. During his last term, he was named chairman on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. He co-sponsored the bill to create the Director of National Intelligence position and co-chaired the Joint Inquiry into Intelligence Community Activities Before and After the Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001.
After his time in public office, he established the Bob Graham Center for Public Service at the University of Florida, which helps students learn the skills of civic engagement, public leadership and public service. He also stayed active in civic life by serving on the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling, the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission and the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism.
Growing up on a cattle and dairy farm in Miami-Dade County, he was a standout student at Miami High, University of Florida and Harvard Law School. He also was famous for connecting with everyday Floridians through his 400 workdays where he showed up for all sorts of jobs by putting in an eight-hour workday. Farewell to a true Florida statesman.