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Former governor Bob Martinez
opens FSC's Florida Lecture Series

LAKELAND, Fla. (Aug. 30, 2002) - Florida Southern College's Center for Florida History will host former governor Bob Martinez as the Center begins its 2002-2003 Florida Lecture Series Thursday, Sept. 12. "A Conversation with Bob Martinez" will start at 7 p.m. in the Annie Pfeiffer Chapel on campus. The lecture is free and open to the public. 

"We are extremely pleased to have former Gov. Bob Martinez with us for our opening lecture for this year's Florida Lecture Series. Gov. Martinez's diverse experiences and contributions to our state and nation make him an excellent choice for our 'kick off' lecture. He is a great Floridian!" noted James M. Denham, Director of the FSC Center for Florida History. 

Martinez served from 1987 until 1991 as Florida's fortieth governor. The second Republican governor elected since Reconstruction and the first in Florida of Hispanic descent, Martinez was born and reared in the Hispanic neighborhood of West Tampa. He graduated from the University of Tampa and earned a master's degree from the University of Illinois. Martinez started his professional career as a teacher and was the advocate and lobbyist for Hillsborough County teachers from 1966 to 1975. He became mayor of Tampa in 1979 and served until his run for governor in 1986. President George Bush appointed Martinez the nation's "Drug Czar" after his term as governor. Upon returning to Florida, he founded a business consulting firm serving the U.S. and Latin America. He is currently associated with the Carlton Fields law firm in Tampa.

About the Florida Lecture Series 
The Florida Lecture Series, produced by the Center for Florida History, brings speakers to the Lakeland campus who approach the issue of "Florida Life and Culture" from a wide range of disciplines, including history, public affairs, law, sociology, criminology, anthropology, literature, music and art. Its overall objective is to create an opportunity for members of the community, faculty, and student body to listen to, interact with and learn from leading scholars and specialists of the state's history and culture. 

About Florida Southern College
Florida Southern is a four-year, private, co-educational liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The college offers more than 40 undergraduate majors and a master of business administration degree accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Located in Lakeland, Fla., the college is home to the largest, single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture in the world.

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