Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the living legacy of Dr. Juel Smith. Her story starts in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, where she was born and graduated from Sapulpa High School in 1960. She married and became a mother of five children. Tragedy struck her and her family when her husband suddenly passed away, and Dr. Smith became a widow. She realized that pursuing higher education was her best… Read more »

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor beloved community leader, Florida State Representative Betty Reed. She was raised in Thomasville, Georgia, in a close-knit family of hardworking sharecroppers and with 12 other siblings. Representative Reed and her husband, James, moved to Tampa after he was discharged from the military to raise a family of their own. Representative Reed was an active… Read more »

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor a third-generation servant leader from my community of Tampa, Florida, Harold A. Jackson, Jr. who was born at Tampa Negro Hospital to the late Jacqueline Haynes Jackson and the late Harold A. Jackson, Sr. Jackson learned about service at a young age as his father served in the U.S. Army during World War II and returned to Tampa to become one of our… Read more »

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of a true champion for justice, Barry Cohen. His remarkable work fighting passionately for all the people of the Tampa Bay community is worthy of recognition. Read more »

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate a fellow Tampanian, Bruce Weiner, on his tenure as the national president of the prestigious American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) and honor his commitment to safe, quality anesthesia care for my neighbors and patients nationwide. Read more »

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have the Big Brothers Big Sisters national headquarters in my district, Tampa, Florida. Big Brothers Big Sisters is lead by the former two-term mayor, Pam Iorio who is beloved in Tampa, and we are proud of her and Big Brother Big Sisters across America. Today in that spirit, I rise to honor the accomplishments of a true advocate for children everywhere, Mr. Rudy Baldoni. His tireless work for Big Brothers Big Sisters has impacted the lives of countless youths. I am grateful to recognize the incredible work he has put into the nation’s oldest and most effective mentoring organization. Read more »

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Judge Paul W. Danahy’s Jr.’s 90th birthday. A member of my hometown of Tampa and the state of Florida’s Greatest Generation, Judge Danahy is one of the longest-serving members on Florida’s Second District Court of Appeals. As a legislator, judge, and assistant Attorney General, Judge Danahy earned a reputation for working tirelessly when providing service to others, and for “gaining the respect of all with whom he served.” Read more »

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding work of a visionary and a dedicated leader of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Dr. Paulette C. Walker during this year’s Black History Month. Dr. Walker has dedicated her life to improving the lives of others through education and public service. Today, I am grateful to recognize her selfless dedication and honor her valuable contributions to our community. Read more »

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate one of Tampa’s finest civic leaders Attorney Carolyn House Stewart. During this Black History Month, we honor her timeless dedication and almost 50 year record of honorable service to our community. Read more »

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a lifetime of professional and personal achievements of an outstanding business leader in the Tampa Bay community, Joli Cooper-Nelson. Ms. Cooper’s commitment to her work and our community has truly made her a role model for women everywhere. That is why, in honor of Black History Month, I recognize her selfless dedication and honor her invaluable contributions to Tampa Bay. Read more »