Florida. Governor (1961-1965 : Bryant)

Farris Bryant was born in Marion County, Florida on July 26, 1914. He received his business degree from the University of Florida in 1935 and a law degree from Harvard University in 1938. During World II, he served in the navy from 1942-1945. He was elected to the Florida House of Representatives from Marion County in 1946 and served five terms. He lost the Democratic nomination for Governor to LeRoy Collins in 1956. He defeated Republican George Peterson for governorship in 1960.

As governor, Bryant led the effort to improve funding for higher education, started construction of the Cross Florida Barge Canal, reorganized the State Road Department, and completed the Sunshine State Parkway. He supported segregation but did not prevent voluntary integration. There was civil rights unrest during his administration and racial violence in St. Augustine in 1964, but a major crisis was avoided. He attempted to broaden the state's economic base by drawing tourists and new businesses to Florida.

After retiring as governor in 1965, he returned to Jacksonville to become Chairman of the Board of National Life of Florida Corporation and Voyager Life Insurance Company. In 1966, President Johnson appointed him Director of the Office of Emergency Planning and a member of the U.S. Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relation.

From the description of Correspondence, 1961-1965. (Florida State Archive). WorldCat record id: 32413171