C. Farris Bryant

Who was C. Farris Bryant?

Cecil Farris Bryant was the 34th Governor of Florida. He also served on the United States National Security Council and in the Office of Emergency Planning during the administration of President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Born in Marion County, Florida, he graduated from Ocala High School before attending Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia from 1931 to 1932. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Florida in 1935 with a business degree. At Florida, he was a member of Florida Blue Key, the Alpha Tau Omega social fraternity, and the Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity. He continued his education at Harvard University, where he earned a law degree in 1938. After completing his education, he went to work in the office of the state Comptroller, where he met his future wife, Julia Burnett.

In 1942, he ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won. He resigned the seat to join the armed services during World War II, and served in the United States Navy as a gunnery and antisubmarine officer in the North Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Pacific. In 1946, he was again elected to his seat, and served five consecutive terms until 1956, serving as speaker in 1953. His uncle was Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives Ion Farris