MAY 5, 2015 – Miami, Florida. St. Thomas University School of Law will hold its Spring Commencement on Saturday, May 16, 2015 at 9:00 am at the St. Thomas University’s Fernandez Center and is honored to welcome former Florida Governor the Honorable Bob Martinez as its commencement speaker and recipient of the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa.
Governor Martinez was sworn in as the 40th Governor of the State of Florida on January 6, 1987, becoming Florida’s first American governor of Spanish descent. As governor, Martinez continued the environmental protection programs of his predecessor and was an advocate for protecting Florida’s surface waters, including Lake Okeechobee, Tampa Bay, Lake Jackson, the Kissimmee River, and other areas. He was also a strong supporter of laws and rules that protected manatees and dolphins.
Prior to being in elected to statewide office, Governor Martinez served as head of the teachers union in Tampa and then as the mayor of Tampa. While Mayor, the city built one of America’s first refuse to energy plants, a performing arts center, convention center, reconstructed the zoo, restored the 1915 City Hall building and annexed thousands of acres of undeveloped land that became new Tampa.
Upon leaving the governor’s office in 1991, Martinez was appointed by President George H. W. Bush to the position of Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (or “Drug Czar”), a Cabinet position in which he served until January 20, 1993. For the past couple decades, the former governor has served as a consultant to Florida-based businesses and law firms.
“Governor Martinez’s distinguished record of public service to his hometown, to the State of Florida, and to the United States will serve as an incomparable role model for our graduates.” stated St. Thomas Law Dean Alfredo Garcia. “As a law school that prides itself on devotion to public service, having been recently recognized as one of the top 10 law schools in providing pro bono services by our student body, we are excited that his presence at the commencement will provide an inspiration to our graduates.”
