Wayne Mixson, Florida’s Governor for 3 Days, Dies at 98
Former Florida Governor Wayne Mixson.
The 2-term lieutenant governor stated his 3 days as governor have been “absolutely packed.” A conservative Democrat, Mixson made on the subject of 200 appointments ahead of Republican Bob Martinez was once sworn in as governor.
- Associated Press
- Ultimate Up to date: July nine, 2020, eight:26 AM IST
Former Florida Gov. Wayne Mixson, whose three-day time period was once shortest in state historical past, died Wednesday. He was once 98.
Mixson took excessive spot on Jan. three, 1987, when Gov. Bob Graham resigned early to be sworn into the U.S. Senate. Mixson died at his house in Tallahassee surrounded through his spouse, Margie, and family members, in line with a commentary issued through his circle of relatives.
The 2-term lieutenant governor stated his 3 days as governor have been “absolutely packed.” A conservative Democrat, Mixson made on the subject of 200 appointments ahead of Republican Bob Martinez was once sworn in as governor.
Graham stated in a written commentary that he selected Mixson to be his lieutenant governor in line with his “power and honesty of his public provider and his devotion to Margie and their existence in combination.”
“His variety was once a very easy one. Our friendship deepened and my admiration of his intelligence and skills grew. As Lt. Governor he capably led the Florida Division of Trade which confident Florida’s place as a coming state at the nationwide degree.”
Mixson and his spouse stayed all 3 nights within the governor’s mansion and had the governor’s team of workers over for a birthday celebration at the first night time.
“Performed the piano, sang songs and lived it up,” Mixson stated in a 2007 interview with The Related Press. He by no means were given trade playing cards however paid for his personal gubernatorial stationery, which he saved for years. “We had a complete Cupboard assembly on (that) Monday,” Mixson stated.
He was once later persuaded through longtime legislative historian Allen Morris to have his portrait hung along Florida’s different governors on the Capitol.
“He got here to my place of work and stated ‘I pay attention you might be now not going to have a portrait made.'” Mixson recounted. “‘You weren’t performing governor, (however) constitutionally the similar governor as any one else in Florida.'”
Mixson was once born June 16, 1922, on his circle of relatives’s farm close to New Brockton, Alabama, simply north of the Florida border, and joined the Army all through International Conflict II, serving as a blimp anti-submarine observer. After the struggle, he attended Columbia College and the College of Pennsylvania ahead of graduating from the College of Florida in 1947 with a trade stage.
“I mourn the lack of Wayne Mixson, a WWII veteran who served as Lt. Governor and Governor of Florida & was once appointed U.S. Ambassador beneath President Jimmy Carter,” Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis stated on Twitter. “We lengthen our condolences to his circle of relatives as our state and nation have a good time his legacy.”
Mixson married Margie Grace of Graceville and started his occupation creating an 1,880-acre (760-hectare) unfold north of Marianna in Jackson County, elevating livestock, peanuts and soybeans.
He was once elected to the Florida Space in 1967, successful re-election 5 instances till he was once selected through Graham as his working mate within the 1978 governor’s race.
“For 8 years, I used to be so lucky to have such a decent and hardworking individual through my aspect,” Graham stated.
Mixson remained politically lively after leaving place of work, and was once a few of the first outstanding Democrats to enhance Republican Jeb Bush in his a success bid for governor in 1998. He stated it wasn’t the primary time he crossed birthday celebration strains — he’d accomplished it within the 1950s to enhance Dwight Eisenhower for president.
“Who did not like Ike?” stated Mixson, who additionally sponsored President George W. Bush’s re-election bid in 2004 after to begin with supporting Graham’s aborted candidacy for the Democratic nomination for president.
