Mr. Speaker, in honor of Black History Month, I rise today to honor the accomplishments of a true champion of progress, Deborah Olivia Gano. Her invaluable contributions to the Tampa Bay community are an inspiration to us all. Today, I am grateful to recognize her selfless dedication and honor her valuable service to our community. Ms. Gano was born in Tampa, Florida. During her early… Read more »

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the legacy of one of Tampa Bay’s true trailblazer, Alton Maurice White, during Black History Month. He has dedicated himself to improving the lives of others through public service and education. Today, I am grateful to recognize his selfless dedication and honor his valuable service to our community. Mr. White chose early on in his impressive career to… Read more »

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the accomplishments of a true champion of progress, Chloe J. Coney.  She is retiring this month after 10 years of serving as my district director in Tampa. Her invaluable contributions to the Tampa Bay community are an inspiration to us all. Today, I am grateful to recognize her selfless dedication, honor her valuable service to our community and… Read more »

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of an extraordinary Tampa resident and Olympian, Theresa A. Manuel. While Ms. Manuel competed internationally in track and field, her undying commitment to students at home as a teacher and coach may have had an even greater impact on the hearts of my neighbors across the Tampa Bay area. Despite growing up during segregation, Theresa Manuel… Read more »

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the lifetime accomplishments of my friend and the trailblazing Floridian, Mrs. Doretha Edgecomb. Her invaluable contribution to the Tampa Bay community is an inspiration to us all. Today, I am grateful to recognize her selfless dedication and honorable service to our community. Mrs. Edgecomb is a proud graduate of Middleton High School in Tampa, Florida… Read more »

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mary Beth Radigan, an outstanding educator and Hillsborough County’s 2016 Teacher of the Year. After graduating from Ohio University with a degree in Special Education, Ms. Radigan began her illustrious career in special-education classrooms, including nine years in Hillsborough County as an educator for autistic and intellectually delayed… Read more »

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 75th anniversary of MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa Bay. With much of the world engulfed in conflict in 1939, the War Department selected Tampa to house a new military air field which would go on to become MacDill Air Force Base. With Tampa’s natural and strategic location, MacDill has grown and expanded over its 75 years serving as a testament… Read more »

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of an extraordinary leader and pillar of the St. Petersburg community, Mr. Thomas “Jet” Jackson, this Black History Month. I am proud to pay tribute to African American men and women who exemplify the spirit of altruism and selfless service. Read more »

Mr. Speaker: I rise today to honor the accomplishments of a true champion of progress during Black History Month and all year long, Barbara Shorter. Her invaluable contributions to the Tampa Bay community is an inspiration to us all. Today, I am grateful to recognize her selfless dedication and honor her valuable service to our community. Read more »

With more than 400 WWII veterans dying each day, the National WWII Museum estimates there are less than 700,000 living in 2016, with 65,000 in Florida -- Emanuel P. Johnson, 94, is one of them. Following his brave tour of duty in Germany, Mr. Johnson settled with his family in Tampa and helped to cultivate the Progress Village community. Mr. Johnson’s oral history has been captured and will be forever memorialized when it is presented to the U.S. Library of Congress by U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor as part of the Veterans History Project. Read more »