Floyd T. Christian
Encyclopedia
Floyd Thomas Christian, Sr. (December 18, 1914–May 11, 1998) was Florida Commissioner of Education from 1965 to 1973.
Christian was born in Bessemer, Alabama
. He moved to Pinellas County
with his family in 1927.
Christian graduated from St. Petersburg High School
in 1933. He received his Bachelor of Arts
from the University of Florida
in 1937 and was a teacher and coach at Clearwater High School
and coach at Fort Myers High School
from 1938 to 1941. In World War II
he served as battalion
commander of the 697th Field Artillery and discharged
as a colonel
in 1946. He received the Legion of Merit
, the French Croix de Guerre
, a Bronze Star, a Silver Star
, and the Italian Medal of Valor.
After the war, Christian was an administrator at the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs
in St. Petersburg
from 1946 to 1948. Christian was Superintendent of Public Instruction for Pinellas County from 1948 to 1965. Around this time Christian served as president of the Florida Association of County Superintendents (1954), president of the Florida Education Association (1955), and as the first chair of the Florida Educational Television Commission (1955). He received his master's degree
in education
from the University of Florida in 1950. Christian was also served on the Florida Board of Regents
, and was one of its first appointees when the board was organized in 1965.
Christian was appointed state Superintendent of Public Instruction, by Governor W. Haydon Burns
in 1965 and served until 1973. (The Superintendent of Public Instruction post was created by the 1868 Florida Constitution
; under the 1885 Constitution, it became an elected position. The Superintendent headed the Department of Public Instruction (1869–1938) and its successor agency, the Florida Department of Education
(1939–1968). Under the current Florida Constitution, adopted in 1968 during Christian's term, the title of the post was changed to Commissioner of Education and the post became one of the elected positions in the Florida Cabinet
.)
Christian won election as Florida Commissioner of Education in 1970. The Florida statewide teachers' strike of 1968
and the desegregation
of Florida schools occurred during Christian's tenure. While he "typified white officialdom's early resistance to desegregation" as Pinellas superintendent, Christian shifted positions and became a "staunch defender of desegregation" as state Commissioner of Education. http://www.sptimes.com/2003/05/21/Tampabay/Where_are_they_now.shtml
His career ended in disgrace in 1975 after he was investigated on corruption
and several months in federal prison
for income tax
evasion
. http://www.sptimes.com/2003/05/21/Tampabay/Where_are_they_now.shtml
Christian lived in Sarasota for about 20 years until he moved to a St. Petersburg retirement community
in 1997. He suffered from congestive heart disease died at Westminster Shores Health Care Center in 1998 at the age of 83.
Christian was born in Bessemer, Alabama
Bessemer, Alabama
Bessemer is a city outside of Birmingham in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States eight miles west of Hoover. The population was 29,672 at the 2000 Census, but by the 2009 U.S...
. He moved to Pinellas County
Pinellas County, Florida
Pinellas County is a county located in the state of Florida. Its county seat is Clearwater, Florida, and its largest city is St. Petersburg. This county is contained entirely within the telephone area code 727, except for some sections of Oldsmar, which have the area code 813...
with his family in 1927.
Christian graduated from St. Petersburg High School
St. Petersburg High School
St. Petersburg High School, founded in 1898, is a secondary school located in St. Petersburg, Florida. The school's current building, a historic landmark, was built in 1926 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. The school was billed as the nation's first million dollar...
in 1933. He received his Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
in 1937 and was a teacher and coach at Clearwater High School
Clearwater High School
Clearwater High School is a public high school located in Clearwater, Florida. It is a member of the Pinellas County School System. The school's nickname is the Tornadoes. Their colors are Crimson and Gray which is also the name of their fight song. The school is known for great athletic teams in...
and coach at Fort Myers High School
Fort Myers Senior High School
Fort Myers Senior High School is a public school in Fort Myers, Florida. It was opened October 19, 1911, making it one of the oldest schools in the state of Florida, and the oldest in Lee County. It is managed by the Lee County School District...
from 1938 to 1941. In World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he served as battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
commander of the 697th Field Artillery and discharged
Military discharge
A military discharge is given when a member of the armed forces is released from their obligation to serve.-United States:Discharge or separation should not be confused with retirement; career U.S...
as a colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
in 1946. He received the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
, the French Croix de Guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
, a Bronze Star, a Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
, and the Italian Medal of Valor.
After the war, Christian was an administrator at the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs
Florida Department of Veterans Affairs
The Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs is a government agency of the state of Florida under the authority of the Governor of Florida charged with helping veterans and their families to receive all benefits they are legally entitled to....
in St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
from 1946 to 1948. Christian was Superintendent of Public Instruction for Pinellas County from 1948 to 1965. Around this time Christian served as president of the Florida Association of County Superintendents (1954), president of the Florida Education Association (1955), and as the first chair of the Florida Educational Television Commission (1955). He received his master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
from the University of Florida in 1950. Christian was also served on the Florida Board of Regents
Florida Board of Regents
The Florida Board of Regents was from 1965 to 2001 the governing body for the State University System of Florida, which includes all public universities in the state of Florida, United States. It was created to replace a predecessor body called the Florida Board of Control, which had existed from...
, and was one of its first appointees when the board was organized in 1965.
Christian was appointed state Superintendent of Public Instruction, by Governor W. Haydon Burns
W. Haydon Burns
William Haydon Burns was the 35th Governor of Florida from 1965 to 1967. He was also Mayor of the city of Jacksonville, Florida from 1949 to 1965.-Early life:...
in 1965 and served until 1973. (The Superintendent of Public Instruction post was created by the 1868 Florida Constitution
Florida Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Florida is the document that establishes and describes the duties, powers, structure and function of the government of the U.S. state of Florida, and establishes the basic law of the state....
; under the 1885 Constitution, it became an elected position. The Superintendent headed the Department of Public Instruction (1869–1938) and its successor agency, the Florida Department of Education
Florida Department of Education
The Florida Department of Education is the state education agency of Florida. It governs public education and manages funding and testing for local educational agencies . It is headquartered in the Turlington Building in Tallahassee.The Florida Commissioner of Education manages the day-to-day...
(1939–1968). Under the current Florida Constitution, adopted in 1968 during Christian's term, the title of the post was changed to Commissioner of Education and the post became one of the elected positions in the Florida Cabinet
Florida Cabinet
The Florida Cabinet is a body of the government of Florida that engages in the collective governance of the state.Created following Reconstruction, when there had been a widespread distrust of the governors appointed by the federal government, the cabinet was designed to decentralize authority from...
.)
Christian won election as Florida Commissioner of Education in 1970. The Florida statewide teachers' strike of 1968
Florida statewide teachers' strike of 1968
The Florida statewide teachers' strike of 1968 was a strike action in the state of Florida in February and March 1968 by teachers and other education workers belonging to the Florida Education Association . The cause of the strike was under-funding of the state's educational system at a time when...
and the desegregation
Desegregation
Desegregation is the process of ending the separation of two groups usually referring to races. This is most commonly used in reference to the United States. Desegregation was long a focus of the American Civil Rights Movement, both before and after the United States Supreme Court's decision in...
of Florida schools occurred during Christian's tenure. While he "typified white officialdom's early resistance to desegregation" as Pinellas superintendent, Christian shifted positions and became a "staunch defender of desegregation" as state Commissioner of Education. http://www.sptimes.com/2003/05/21/Tampabay/Where_are_they_now.shtml
His career ended in disgrace in 1975 after he was investigated on corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
and several months in federal prison
Federal prison
Federal prisons are run by national governments in countries where subdivisions of the country also operate prisons.In the United States federal prisons are operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. In Canada the Correctional Service of Canada operates federal prisons. Prison sentences in these...
for income tax
Income tax
An income tax is a tax levied on the income of individuals or businesses . Various income tax systems exist, with varying degrees of tax incidence. Income taxation can be progressive, proportional, or regressive. When the tax is levied on the income of companies, it is often called a corporate...
evasion
Tax avoidance and tax evasion
Tax noncompliance describes a range of activities that are unfavorable to a state's tax system. These include tax avoidance, which refers to reducing taxes by legal means, and tax evasion which refers to the criminal non-payment of tax liabilities....
. http://www.sptimes.com/2003/05/21/Tampabay/Where_are_they_now.shtml
Christian lived in Sarasota for about 20 years until he moved to a St. Petersburg retirement community
Retirement community
A retirement community, or active adult community, is a very broad, generic term that covers many varieties of housing for retirees and seniors - especially designed or geared for people who no longer work, or restricted to those over a certain age . It differs from a retirement home which is a...
in 1997. He suffered from congestive heart disease died at Westminster Shores Health Care Center in 1998 at the age of 83.
External links
- A Guide to the Floyd T. Christian Speeches from the George A. Smathers LibrariesGeorge A. Smathers LibrariesThe University of Florida's George A. Smathers Libraries, is one of the largest university library systems in the United States. The system includes eight of the nine libraries of the University of Florida and provides primary support to all academic programs except those served by the Lawton...
of the University of Florida