A native Floridian, Terrell Sessums was born in 1930 in Daytona Beach. He was raised in Jacksonville, Florida, and received his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Florida in 1953. After graduation, Sessums was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. He was stationed in Alabama for three years before returning to the University of Florida to obtain his law degree, which he received in 1958. His legal career began in Tampa, where he gained exposure to Hillsborough County politics while working at the law firm of Hardee and Ott. During the 1959 and 1961 legislative sessions, Sessums worked as a legislative aide to former Senator Sam Gibbons, who played a key role in the establishment of the University of South Florida. In 1963, Sessums was elected to the Florida House of Representatives, where he served as Speaker pro tempore from 1968 to 1970 and Speaker of the House from 1972 to 1974. During this time, Sessums remained greatly concerned with education in Florida. He served as chairman of the House Education Committee from 1970 to 1972, and was particularly active in pressing for more equitable allocation of education funds. Sessums also played a major role in the establishment of the University of South Florida College of Medicine, which opened with its charter class in September of 1971.
From the guide to the T. Terrell Sessums Collection, 1963-1974
