We can celebrate Thomas Jefferson Day here in Florida due to his grandson’s contribution to our state. From helping to establish Florida State University to his settling in Orlando, Francis Wayles Eppes made his mark in our state. Swampy’s pal,[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Archive for Florida People
Swampy’s #Florida says Happy John D. MacDonald’s 100th Birthday! Swampy, the Swamp Ape, celebrates the 100th birthday of author John D. MacDonald remembering the tales of Travis McGee. It was today in 1916 that the great Florida author[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Here’s the 5thy Street Gym where Cassius Clay trained to become Muhammad Ali . Here’s a terrific website that honors the gym: http://www.5thstgym.com/history/ If you weren’t familiar with Muhammad Ali’s development at the 5th Street Gym, this photograph of Ali[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
One of “The Greatest” to come out of Florida was Muhammad Ali. As writer Cote notes below what Ferdie Pacheco, “The Fight Doctor,” famously once said, “Cassius Clay was born in Louisville. Muhammad Ali was born in Miami.” Many fight[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Jim Ivey Political Cartoon from 60 years ago today in the St Petersburg Times! While looking for today’s advertisement i came across, my old friend, Jim Ivey’s editorial cartoons from the St Petersburg Times. The onfirst is from November 17th[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Last night got to spend some time talking Florida politics and south Florida with Marion Portman, former Mayor of Surfside, just north of Miami Beach. She’s 92 now and living in The Villages. She was the first female mayor in[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Recorded this back in February during Pine Castle Pioneer Days in south Orange County.
Sorry to learn today of the death of former Governor Reubin Askew. Apparently hip replacement surgery led to pneumonia that weakened him to death. Click here to learn of Askew’s life and service to Florida as Governor from 1971 to[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Swampy’s Travels: Along the Silver River…
A short set of photos I took last week of the Silver River by Silver Springs This is where the Jungle Cruise launch was. Also known as the Sea Hunt TV series set was. As i took photos a guy[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Esther Williams has died at the age of 91. She was at one time one of the most popular movie stars and internationally known for her swimming ability. Most of her films involved her swimming to one degree or the[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Sorry to learn of the death of Lilly Pulitzer today. Her extremely popular clothing line, that sparked a trend seen today by other clothes makers, was all the result of our orange groves. A spill of orange juice created a[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
href=”http://swampysflorida.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/20130321-161622.jpg”> Stopped at the original Gabriel’s Sub Shop in Orlando and just learned that two weeks ago Paul Gabriel died. He started the Orlando institution back in 1958 on Edgewater Drive in the area of College Park in Orlando. Over[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…