Randy Christmas
Encyclopedia
Randall Norton "Randy" Christmas (October 14, 1920 – July 27, 1969) was the Mayor of Miami from 1955–1957. He had served previously on the Miami City Commission from 1953–1955.
In 1926 the Christmas family relocated to Miami. The sixth of seven siblings, Randall began working as a young boy delivering the Miami Herald. He attended Edison High School
where he graduated in 1938. Christmas served with the US Marine Corps VMB443 in a B-25 bomber in the Pacific Theater during World War II where he met and became acquainted with George Smathers
, later to become an influential Senator from the state of Florida. In 1951, Randall graduated from the University of Miami School of Law
. Christmas served in a time of tremendous change and phenomenal growth for Miami highlighted by the creation and transition to Miami-Dade, a municipal entity incorporating the whole of Miami proper with several of the smaller municipalities in the wider metro area. Christmas was the first mayor to serve from what are still the current offices of the City of Miami municipal government. He can be seen on camera from these offices in the film Miami Expose (1956) in which he introduces the movie to audiences. Christmas later served as an Assistant State's Attorney
from 1960–1964, afterwards continuing in private practice till his death.
He is buried at Southern Memorial Cemetery in North Miami Beach, Florida.
In 1926 the Christmas family relocated to Miami. The sixth of seven siblings, Randall began working as a young boy delivering the Miami Herald. He attended Edison High School
Miami Edison High School
Miami Edison High School is a secondary school located at 6161 NW 5th Court in the Little Haiti neighborhood of Miami, Florida, USA. The provost is Dr. Pablo G. Ortiz...
where he graduated in 1938. Christmas served with the US Marine Corps VMB443 in a B-25 bomber in the Pacific Theater during World War II where he met and became acquainted with George Smathers
George Smathers
George Armistead Smathers was an American lawyer and politician who represented the state of Florida in the United States Senate for eighteen years, from 1951 until 1969, as a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life:...
, later to become an influential Senator from the state of Florida. In 1951, Randall graduated from the University of Miami School of Law
University of Miami School of Law
The University of Miami School of Law, founded in 1926, is the law school of the University of Miami, located in Coral Gables, Florida, in the United States. The school graduated its first class of 13 students in 1929.- Academics :...
. Christmas served in a time of tremendous change and phenomenal growth for Miami highlighted by the creation and transition to Miami-Dade, a municipal entity incorporating the whole of Miami proper with several of the smaller municipalities in the wider metro area. Christmas was the first mayor to serve from what are still the current offices of the City of Miami municipal government. He can be seen on camera from these offices in the film Miami Expose (1956) in which he introduces the movie to audiences. Christmas later served as an Assistant State's Attorney
State's Attorney
In the United States, the State's Attorney is, most commonly, an elected official who represents the State in criminal prosecutions and is often the chief law enforcement officer of their respective county, circuit...
from 1960–1964, afterwards continuing in private practice till his death.
He is buried at Southern Memorial Cemetery in North Miami Beach, Florida.