Collection created by Reubin Askew and Donna Lou Askew

Reubin O'Donovan Askew, 37th Governor of Florida, was born on September 11th, 1928 in Muskogee, Oklahoma. In 1937, he and his mother moved to Pensacola, where Reubin graduated from Pensacola High School in 1946. Later in 1946, he entered the United States Army as a paratrooper and later was discharged as a Sergeant. Askew then attended college at Florida State University before joining the United States Air Force from 1951.

Askew's public official career began when he served as Assistant County Solicitor for Escambia County from 1956-1958. In 1958, he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives and to the State Senate in 1962. During his time in the State Senate, he served as President Pro Tempore from 1969-1970. Mr. Askew was elected Governor in 1970 and again in 1974, making him the first Governor to be elected for a second, consecutive 4-yr term.

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