Cary A. Hardee
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Cary Augustus Hardee (November 13, 1876 – November 21, 1957) was an American educator, lawyer, legislator, and banker who served as the 23rd governor of Florida.
Biography
Early life and career
Born in Taylor County, Florida, he spent most of his life in Live Oak, Florida. He was a teacher until 1900 when he was admitted to the bar and began practicing law.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Additionally, he was a banker, establishing the First National Bank of Live Oak in 1902 and later serving as its president. He also organized the Mayo State Bank and was president of the Branford State Bank.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>
Political career
In 1905 he became the state's attorney for the Third Judicial District. He served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1915 to 1919, and was Speaker of the Florida House.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref>
Gubernatorial campaign issues
Hardee identified his positions on the issues of better and more efficient government, taxation, waterways and roads, agriculture, and veterans' affairs in a 1920 newspaper article.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Governorship
He took office as governor on January 4, 1921.<ref name=":0" /> During his term, the state adopted constitutional amendments that reapportioned the legislature and prohibited the levying of state income and inheritance taxes along with starting the first state gasoline tax.<ref name=":1" /> Six counties were created during his tenure as governor.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He also halted the practice of leasing state prisoners out to private businesses, following the death of Martin Tabert.<ref name=":1" /> During his term as governor, electrocution became a legal method of execution in Florida.Template:Citation needed
Hardee was less willing to spend state funds than his predecessor, the populist Sidney Johnston Catts. During his tenure, the state cut the budgets of all three of Florida's state universities - the University of Florida, the Florida State College for Women, and Florida A&M University. Hardee particularly targeted Florida A&M, which due to segregation only served African-American students. Since he believed a more educated black populace would be more likely to leave the state in search of better opportunities, he instructed his appointees to the Florida Board of Control to abolish the liberal arts program at the school and convert it into a purely vocational college. FAMU president Nathan B. Young resisted these efforts, but was eventually forced to resign; in response, students at FAMU staged a violent strike that led to the destruction of multiple campus buildings.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
He offered to send in National Guard troops in response to the Rosewood Massacre but the local sheriff refused the offer.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Post-governorship
Hardee left office on January 6, 1925.<ref name=":0" /> He ran for governor again in 1932, but lost the Democratic primary.<ref name=":2" />
He was a banker in Live Oak until his death in 1957.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref>
Honors and memorials
Hardee County, Florida is named in his honor.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Electoral history
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References
External links
- Official Governor's portrait and biography from the State of Florida
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- A photograph of Cary A. Hardee and his cabinet from Florida Memory ran by the Florida State Library and Archives of Florida.
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