Former Gov. Bob Graham to lie in state at Old Capitol
Bob Graham, a two-term Florida governor who went on to serve in the U.S. Senate, will lie in state at the Historic Capitol Museum on April 26.
A public viewing for Graham, who was 87 when he died Tuesday, will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., according to Bevis Funeral Home in Tallahassee. A private graveside service is expected later in the day at Oakland Cemetery in Tallahassee, which is just west of the governor’s mansion.
Graham, a Democrat, served as governor from 1979 to 1987, spent three terms in the U.S. Senate, and was one of the most-popular figures in Florida politics over the past half-century.
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday announced that flags would be lowered to half-staff during the day at all local and state buildings, installations, and grounds throughout Florida until sunset on the day of Graham’s interment.
DeSantis called Graham “a great Floridian” who “served this state with honor and integrity and really made a great contribution.”
Lowering of flags in Graham’s honor would be “very much appropriate,” DeSantis said Wednesday. “We’re really thankful for his service,” DeSantis added. “And he served very, very ably for this state for many, many years.”
Graham was known to many Floridians for his down-to-earth persona that included work days in which he joined people in their jobs.
“While he valued his opportunities to represent others in public office, the jobs Bob Graham most loved were those he spent working alongside everyday Floridians,” Graham’s family said in a statement announcing his death Tuesday. “His more than 400 workdays, in occupations ranging from construction to farming to hospitality, created wonderful friendships across the state and forever changed his perspective on Florida and his approach to public service.”
Former Florida Gov. Bob Graham on Feb. 4, 1985. He died on Tuesday at the age of 87. Graham, a Democrat, was first elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 1966 and re-elected in 1968. He was elected to the Florida State Senate in 1970 and was re-elected in 1974. He served as Florida’s governor from 1979 to 1987, and as a U.S. senator from 1987 to 2005. (South Florida Sun Sentinel file)
8/12/83 Governor Bob Graham loads baggage into the after compartment of an Eastern DC-9. (Bob Mack/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
7/5/85 Governor Bob Graham works for a day at Burger King on Southeast 17th Street and Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale. (Nicholas Von Staden/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
12/22/88 Senator Bob Graham at Port Everglades for one of his famous workdays. Graham was inspecting trucks as they boarded ships, checking tires on the trailers and taking the temperature of the oranges inside the trailer. (Lou Toman/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
9/22/86 Governor Bob Graham and New York Mayor Ed Koch at Sunrise Theater. (Nicholas Von Staden/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
12/4/85 Governor Bob Graham on the sidelines at a football game. From left are Bob Graham, Jimmy Buffett and Henry Barrow of WIOD. (Les Sintay/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
During a tour of the city’s hardest hit neighborhoods Florida Senator Bob Graham comforts Isabel Ulrich of the Pineapple Park neighborhood in West Palm Beach after her home was damaged by Hurricane Frances. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Sen. Bob Graham spends his 349th Workday teaching an American Government class at Santaluces H.S. in Lantana. He discussed the constitution with the students and held a press conference with local media and the students. (Mark Randall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Governor Bob Graham and Senator Paula Hawkins toured the panhandle coast line by helicopter, to inspect the damage from Hurricane Elena. Here they are in Panama City. 9/3/1985 (Phil Skinner/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
9/13/81 Governor Bob Graham in Coral Springs surrounded by the media and protesters. (Chris Walker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
10/20/08 Sen. Hillary Clinton speaks at a rally in downtown Fort Lauderdale for Sen. Barack Obama to a small rain soaked crowd. Hillary Clinton has a few words with retired Sen, Bob Graham after she spoke. (Lou Toman/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Bob Graham puts his arm around Jimmy Buffett during a free GOTV concert in support of Gwen Graham, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, at the Hollywood ArtsPark Amphitheater. (Michael Laughlin/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
5/6/03 Florida Senator Bob Graham supporters wave big letters spelling his first name as he makes official his candidacy for the nomination of the Democratic party for the presidency of the USA. The announcement took place in Miami Lakes. (Angel Valentin/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
10/20/08 Former U.S. Sen. Bob Graham introduces Sen. Hillary Clinton at a Barack Obama rally in Fort Lauderdale as “the most important woman in the world.” (Susan Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
2/19/90 Senator Bob Graham, at left, inspects some 8.9 pounds of Jamaican marijuana that had been seized by Customs agents just hours before at the Miami International Airport. The person had the pot strapped to his body. Center is Bill Ellis and right, Ricky Grim. (Robert Duyos/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
2/19/90 Senator Bob Graham, at left, inspects some fish from Ecuador along with Customs agent Armando Johnson, at right. Daniel Robert. (Robert Duyos/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
The Presidential Debate at Lynn University. First lady Michelle Obama, at right, smiles during the introductions at the debate. To her left is Robert Wexler and in rear is Bob Graham. (Robert Duyos/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
5/6/03 Florida Senator Bob Graham and wife Adele Graham, greet supporters after making official his candidacy for the nomination of the Democratic party for the presidency of the USA. The announcement took place in Miami Lakes. (Angel Valentin/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
2/10/87 Senator Bob Graham works for the day at Everglades National Park Ranger. (Dan Fitzpatrick/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
United States Senator Bob Graham joins singer Jimmy Buffett to announce a drive designated to raise money for Latin American and Caribbean youths to attend Florida colleges. Pictured here, Sen. Bob Graham (L) and Jimmy Buffett hold a sign during the announcement in Miami Beach. 10/19/87 (Joe Raedle/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Former Florida Governor and Senator Bob Graham attends the first joint appearance by the three declared candidates for the Democratic nomination for Florida governor is in Hollywood on Saturday. June 17, 2017. Andrew Gillum, Gwen Graham and Chris King are appearing before the Democratic Progressive Caucus at the Diplomat in conjunction with the state Democratic Party’s big annual fundraising event. (Michael Laughlin/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Former Congresswoman Gwen Graham gives her father, former U.S. senator and governor Bob Graham, a kiss after he introduced her Thursday afternoon at an event in Pembroke Pines. (Taimy Alvarez/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
11/7/80 Governor Bob Graham at the dedication of Air Force Beach in Palm Beach County. (Bill Sanders/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Sen. Bob Graham (standing, ) looks out over the as Loxahatchee Wildlife Refuge while on a tour with manager Mark Musaus and Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio) both of whom are not visible in this photo. (Mark Randall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Florida Governor Bob Graham introduces Jimmy Buffett to the audience at a fundraiser held at the Coconut Grove Playhouse. 4/6/86 (Joe Willis/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
10/8/84 Day care centers- Hispanic Human Resources Day Care inspected by Gov. Bob Graham. (Carl Siebert/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
5/6/03 Florida Senator Bob Graham and greets supporters before making official his candidacy for the nomination of the Democratic party for the presidency of the USA. The announcement took place in Miami Lakes. Several members of Graham’s family stood behind him. (Angel Valentin/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
