Senate Bill sb2330

    Florida Senate - 2001        (NP)                      SR 2330

    By Senators Laurent, Campbell, Smith, Wasserman Schultz and
    Dyer




    17-1863A-01

  1                    Senate Resolution No. ____

  2         A resolution expressing sorrow at the death of

  3         the Honorable Stephen C. O'Connell.

  4

  5         WHEREAS, the Florida Senate, with deep regret, was

  6  informed of the death of Stephen C. O'Connell, and

  7         WHEREAS, Stephen C. O'Connell was a lawyer, banker,

  8  rancher, Supreme Court Justice, university president, athlete,

  9  Gator, father, husband, and friend, and

10         WHEREAS, Stephen C. O'Connell honorably served his

11  nation, rising to the rank of Major during World War II, and

12         WHEREAS, Stephen C. O'Connell served his state as a

13  Justice on the Florida Supreme Court from 1955 to 1967, as

14  President of the University of Florida from 1967 to 1973, and

15  was the only person to serve both as Chief Justice of the

16  Florida Supreme Court and President of the University of

17  Florida, and

18         WHEREAS, Stephen C. O'Connell exemplified the

19  description of "scholar and gentleman," NOW, THEREFORE,

20

21  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:

22

23         That this legislative body does pause in its

24  deliberations to pay its respects to the Honorable Stephen C.

25  O'Connell and that the Florida Senate in session assembled

26  does hereby record this testimonial of esteem and bereavement:

27                           IN MEMORIAM

28                       STEPHEN C. O'CONNELL

29         Stephen C. O'Connell was born in West Palm Beach,

30  Florida, on January 22, 1916. He attended the University of

31  Florida, where he was president of the student body and

                                  1

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 2001        (NP)                      SR 2330
    17-1863A-01




  1  captain of the boxing team. He served in the Army Air Corps in

  2  World War II, rising to the rank of Major. He returned to Ft.

  3  Lauderdale where he practiced law until he was appointed to

  4  the Florida Supreme Court in 1955. He served on the Supreme

  5  Court until 1967, serving as Chief Justice his final year. He

  6  left the court to accept the position of President of the

  7  University of Florida, serving from 1967 to 1973, during which

  8  time he guided the university through a turbulent period of

  9  campus unrest with the straight talk, old-world manners,

10  impish humor, integrity, and determination to do the right

11  thing -- qualities with which he was identified throughout his

12  life.

13         Upon leaving the University of Florida in 1973, he

14  returned to Tallahassee, where he embarked upon several

15  successful enterprises and lived until his death on April 13,

16  2001.

17         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution,

18  signed by the President of the Senate, with the Seal of the

19  Florida Senate affixed, be transmitted to Mrs. Cindy Bowling

20  O'Connell, widow of Stephen C. O'Connell, as a tangible token

21  of the sentiments expressed by the Florida Senate and as a

22  lasting symbol of the respect held by the members of the

23  Florida Senate.

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

                                  2

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.