Governor Daniel Thomas McCarty

DANIEL THOMAS MCCARTY, Florida’s 31st Governor, was born in Fort Pierce, Florida, on January 18, 1912. He attended Florida’s public school system and in 1934 graduated from the University of Florida. After finishing his education, McCarty became a cattleman and citrus grower in Fort Pierce. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army, was promoted to the rank of Colonel, and was decorated with the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Legion of Merit, and the French Croix de Guerre. McCarty entered politics as a member of the Florida House of Representatives, a position he held from 1937 to 1941. He also served as speaker of the house in 1941. He ran unsuccessfully for the governor’s office in 1948, but five years later was victorious and became Governor of Florida. During his tenure, educational scholarships for future teachers were established, the road department was restructured, teacher salaries were increased, aid programs for the disabled were created, and a primary state construction plan was initiated. Early in his term, McCarty experienced a heart attack and subsequently passed away on September 28, 1953. Governor Daniel T. McCarty is buried at the Palms Cemetery near Ankona, Florida.