 | This article includes a list ofgeneral references, butit lacks sufficient correspondinginline citations. Please help toimprove this article byintroducing more precise citations.(January 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Daniel T. McCarty | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 31st Governor of Florida | |
| In office January 6, 1953 – September 28, 1953 | |
| Preceded by | Fuller Warren |
| Succeeded by | Charley E. Johns |
| Speakers of the Florida House of Representatives | |
| In office 1941 | |
| Preceded by | George Pierce Wood |
| Succeeded by | Richard H. Simpson |
| Member of theFlorida House of Representatives | |
| In office 1937–1941 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1912-01-18)January 18, 1912 Fort Pierce, Florida, U.S. |
| Died | September 28, 1953(1953-09-28) (aged 41) Tallahassee, Florida, U.S. |
| Resting place | Palms Cemetery,Ankona, Florida, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Relatives | John M. McCarty (brother) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Bronze Star Purple Heart Legion of Merit Croix de Guerre |
Daniel Thomas McCarty (January 18, 1912 – September 28, 1953) was an American politician who served in theFlorida House of Representatives and served as itsspeaker. He briefly served as the31st Governor of Florida from January 6, 1953, until his death on September 28, 1953.
Dan McCarty was born on January 18, 1912, inFort Pierce, Florida, and was the son of Daniel Thomas McCarty and Frances Lardner Moore.[1] His grandfather, Charles "C.T." Tobin McCarty would begin an operation growing pineapples during the 1880s inSt. Lucie County. C.T. was killed during a real estate dispute when he was leaving a barber shop in Fort Pierce on January 30, 1907.[2][3]
His family was described as being prominent and he grew up in a large house on Indian River Drive just south of the present courthouse in downtown Fort Pierce.[4] He attended the local public school in the area, Delaware Avenue School. While attending high school he would be the captain of the school's football team, editor-in-chief of the school yearbook and serve as vice president of his class.[5] After high school he would go to theUniversity of Florida. While at theUniversity of Florida he was extremely active withinFlorida Blue Key, Student Government, theSigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, andROTC.
After finishing his education in 1934, McCarty became a cattleman and citrus grower in Fort Pierce. He married Olie Brown with whom he had three children.
DuringWorld War II, he served in the U.S. Army, was promoted to the rank ofcolonel, and was decorated with theBronze Star Medal, thePurple Heart, theLegion of Merit, and the FrenchCroix de Guerre. DuringWorld War II, he distinguished himself by being among those who landed onD-Day with the Seventh Army in the South of France.[4]
He began his political career when in 1937, he was elected to theFlorida House of Representatives where he served until 1941. During the 1941 session, he served asspeaker of the house.
In 1948 he was the runner up for theDemocratic nomination for governor. Four years later in1952, he ran for governor again, and this time was successful in winning the office. During his tenure, he reformed purchasing and hiring practices by the state government, boosted teachers' salaries and created scholarships for teacher training, opposed oil exploration in the Everglades, and instituted aid programs for the disabled. A chain smoker, McCarty's health was already weakened by the end of the 1952 gubernatorial contest.[6]
On February 25, 1953, shortly after assuming the governorship, he suffered a debilitating heart attack. For months McCarty struggled to regain his strength, spending most of his days working in the Governor's mansion. Finally in early September he contracted a severe case ofpneumonia and died on September 28, 1953, inTallahassee. After a large funeral at his lifelong parish church, the oldCarpenter GothicSt. Andrew's Episcopal Church across the street from his boyhood home in Fort Pierce, he was buried in the Palms Cemetery in Ankona.
Dan McCarty Middle School, inSt. Lucie County, was named in his honor.
Asabal palm tree was planted on the grounds of theFlorida State Capitol in honor of him. He signed a bill as governor making the sabal palm the official state tree.[7]
Media related toDaniel T. McCarty at Wikimedia Commons
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forGovernor of Florida 1952 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Governor of Florida January 6, 1953–September 28, 1953 | Succeeded by |
| Military(1821) |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Territorial(1822–1845) | ||
| State(since 1845) | ||
Democratic Party nominees forgovernor of Florida (1953–) | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
