Cecil Farris Bryant (July 26, 1914 - March 1, 2002) was the thirty_fourth governor of Florida. He also served on the United States National Security Council and in Office of Emergency Planning during the administration of President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Early life

Born in Marion County, Florida, he attended Ocala High School before going on to Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia from 1931-1932. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Florida with a business degree, and at Harvard University, where he earned a law degree in 1938. After completing his degree, he went to work in the office of the state comptroller where met his future wife, Julia Burnett.

Early politics

In 1942, he ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won. He resigned the seat to join the armed services during World War II where he served in the U.S. Navy as a gunnery and antisubmarine officer in the North Atlantic, Mediterranean and Pacific. In 1946, he was elected again to his seat and served five consecutive terms through 1956, serving as speaker in 1953.

Governor's office

In 1960, he was elect governor and took the oath of office on January 3, 1961. His administration continued the focus on education that his predecessor Governor T. LeRoy Collins. He help in obtaining funds for twenty-eight junior colleges and additional state universities. He worked to get interstate and state highways built in Florida. He also worked to purchase public lands for future use by the state, stating that it was important to do it now, "before are the need arose--or before it became critical". He also was a major proponent of the Cross Florida Barge Canal. He left office on January 5, 1965.

Post-governorship

After his term, he was appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson to serve on the United States National Security Council and in the White House Office of Emergency Planning. In 1970, he ran for the U.S. Senate, but was defeated during the Democratic primary. Upon his defeat, he return to practice law in Jacksonville, Florida, where he lived until his death in 2002.

External links

Official Governor's portrait and biography from the State of Florida (http://dhr.dos.state.fl.us/museum/collections/governors/about.cfm?id=41)