William A. Shands
Encyclopedia
William Augustine "Willie" Shands (July 21, 1889 – January 17, 1973) was an American politician and elected officeholder. Shands was a long-time Democrat
member of the Florida Senate
and an advocate for the establishment of a state medical college and teaching hospital.
in 1899, and moved to Gainesville, Florida
with his family in 1901. He attended the University of Florida
in Gainesville, where he joined the Kappa Alpha Order
Fraternity
(Beta Zeta Chapter). While attending the university, he played football for the Florida football
and Florida baseball
teams. He was later inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "distinguished letter winner."
degree, Shands was elected to the Florida Senate
in 1940, representing the 32nd District centered on Gainesville in north central Florida. Shands was later selected by his colleagues to serve as the president of the Florida Senate during the 1957 session of the legislature.
Shands was a Democrat
candidate for Florida Governor in 1948, but lost the Democratic Party primary to the eventual general election winner, Fuller Warren
. During the primary campaign, Shands advocated the adoption of a state sales tax
, which was opposed by Warren. The Florida Legislature
adopted Shands' sales tax proposal over Warren's objections in the following session of the Florida Legislature
, and it has remained the mainstay of state revenue ever since.
Shands became a forceful advocate of establishing a state-funded medical and teaching hospital at the University of Florida. The University of Florida College of Medicine
opened in 1956. Two years later, the University of Florida Teaching Hospital opened on October 20, 1958. In 1965, it was renamed the "William A. Shands Teaching Hospital and Clinics" in his honor. The hospital is often referred to as "Shands Hospital," and is part of the Shands HealthCare
network.
Shands died in Gainesville in 1973; he was 83 years old.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the Florida Senate
Florida Senate
The Florida Senate is the upper house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Senate is composed of 40 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 470,032....
and an advocate for the establishment of a state medical college and teaching hospital.
Early life and education
Shands was born in Alachua County, FloridaAlachua County, Florida
Alachua County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 227,120. Its county seat is Gainesville, Florida. Alachua County is the home of the University of Florida and is also known for its diverse culture, local music, and artisans...
in 1899, and moved to Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
with his family in 1901. He attended 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 Gainesville, where he joined the Kappa Alpha Order
Kappa Alpha Order
Kappa Alpha Order is a social fraternity and fraternal order. Kappa Alpha Order has 124 active chapters, 3 provisional chapters, and 2 commissions...
Fraternity
Fraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
(Beta Zeta Chapter). While attending the university, he played football for the Florida football
Florida Gators football
The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference...
and Florida baseball
Florida Gators baseball
The Florida Gators baseball team represents the University of Florida in the sport of baseball. The Florida Gators compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletics Association , and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference . They play their home games in Alfred A...
teams. He was later inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "distinguished letter winner."
Business and politics
Shands left the university before graduating and began selling agricultural chemicals for the Standard Fertilizer Company He married Catherine London Hawkins of Jacksonville, Florida on June 12, 1912, and then moved to Alabama. He later returned to Gainesville and started the Gainesville Poster-Advertising Company in 1928. He ran and was elected to the Gainesville City Council. He joined the City Charter Commission, and in 1929 was appointed to the State Road Board. In order to further his business and political aspirations, he returned to the University of Florida to study law.State senate and legacy
After graduating from the University of Florida with his bachelor of lawsBachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
degree, Shands was elected to the Florida Senate
Florida Senate
The Florida Senate is the upper house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Senate is composed of 40 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 470,032....
in 1940, representing the 32nd District centered on Gainesville in north central Florida. Shands was later selected by his colleagues to serve as the president of the Florida Senate during the 1957 session of the legislature.
Shands was a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
candidate for Florida Governor in 1948, but lost the Democratic Party primary to the eventual general election winner, Fuller Warren
Fuller Warren
Fuller Warren was the 30th Governor of Florida.Born in Blountstown, Florida, he attended the University of Florida in Gainesville. While at the University of Florida, he was one of the early members of Florida Blue Key and was a member of the Tau Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity...
. During the primary campaign, Shands advocated the adoption of a state sales tax
Sales tax
A sales tax is a tax, usually paid by the consumer at the point of purchase, itemized separately from the base price, for certain goods and services. The tax amount is usually calculated by applying a percentage rate to the taxable price of a sale....
, which was opposed by Warren. The Florida Legislature
Florida Legislature
The Florida State Legislature is the term often used to refer to the two houses that act as the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Florida Constitution states that "The legislative power of the state shall be vested in a legislature of the State of Florida," composed of a Senate...
adopted Shands' sales tax proposal over Warren's objections in the following session of the Florida Legislature
Florida Legislature
The Florida State Legislature is the term often used to refer to the two houses that act as the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Florida Constitution states that "The legislative power of the state shall be vested in a legislature of the State of Florida," composed of a Senate...
, and it has remained the mainstay of state revenue ever since.
Shands became a forceful advocate of establishing a state-funded medical and teaching hospital at the University of Florida. The University of Florida College of Medicine
University of Florida College of Medicine
The University of Florida College of Medicine is the medical school of the University of Florida. It is part of the J. Hillis Miller Health Science Center, with facilities in Gainesville and Jacksonville...
opened in 1956. Two years later, the University of Florida Teaching Hospital opened on October 20, 1958. In 1965, it was renamed the "William A. Shands Teaching Hospital and Clinics" in his honor. The hospital is often referred to as "Shands Hospital," and is part of the Shands HealthCare
Shands HealthCare
Shands HealthCare is a medical network in north-central Florida, named in 2007 to the U.S. News & World Report list of the nation's top 50 hospitals.-History:William A. Shands was a Florida state Senator, elected from the 32nd District in the mid-1940s...
network.
Shands died in Gainesville in 1973; he was 83 years old.
See also
- Florida GatorsFlorida GatorsThe Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
- Florida Gators football, 1906–1909
- History of the University of FloridaHistory of the University of FloridaThe history of the University of Florida is firmly tied to the history of public education in the state of Florida. The University of Florida, colloquially known as "Florida" or "UF," originated as several distinct institutions that were merged to create a single state-supported university by the...
- List of Kappa Alpha Order members
- List of Levin College of Law graduates
- List of University of Florida alumni
- List of University of Florida honorary degree recipients