Remembering Bob Graham, a titan of public service

It’s hard to imagine anyone leaving a more profound impact on the state of Florida than Daniel Robert “Bob” Graham. A lifelong public servant, preeminent University of Florida alumnus, and one of Florida’s most beloved elected officials, Graham’s influence is woven into the very fabric of our state. Though Graham passed away on April 16, 2024, at the age of 87, his legacy will endure for generations to come.

Graham dedicated nearly four decades to serving the people of Florida at the local, state, and national levels. As a state legislator, governor (1978-1987), and three-term U.S. senator (1987-2004), Graham played an integral role in shaping modern Florida’s history and addressing a myriad of critical public policy issues. Graham’s career exemplified integrity, dedication, and steadfast commitment to the betterment of his community and the state.

It all began at UF, where he graduated in 1959 with a bachelor’s degree in political science. As a student, Graham quickly distinguished himself as a leader. Among his earliest official titles were “UF Honor Court Chancellor Graham” and “President Graham of the Epsilon Zeta chapter of Sigma Nu Fraternity” – before becoming Governor Graham, Senator Graham, Chairman Graham, then, affectionately, “Doodle” by his grandchildren.

“Senator Bob Graham emerged from our university with a heart for public service,” UF President Ben Sasse said. “He prized finding common ground rather than sowing division — and he was a champion of democracy and civic engagement.”

Throughout the years, Graham’s connection to UF grew. In 2006, he established the Bob Graham Center for Public Service. Located in Pugh Hall, the Graham Center also houses Graham’s personal office, symbolizing his enduring presence on campus.

“Graham loved the university and especially its students, whom he relished meeting whenever he was on campus,” said Matthew Jacobs, director of the Bob Graham Center for Public Service.

Having played a pivotal role in Florida’s rise from a predominantly rural Southern backwater to an economic and political powerhouse, Graham founded the Graham Center to promote civic engagement and to train the next generation of Sunshine State leaders.

In a video interview in 2018, Graham said, “What we’re trying to do at the Graham Center is encourage young people and people of all ages to learn about their communities by actually getting involved. Democracy was never intended to be a spectator sport; it’s always been participation. People need the opportunities to participate and they need the skills to participate effectively.”

Today, the Graham Center has become a vital hub for civic engagement and intellectual discourse. Through internships, research, and guest lectures, it equips UF students with the tools and knowledge to become active citizens and leaders. Frequent public programs and lectures ensure broader community involvement, on both political and non-political topics. Following Graham’s example, the center frequently collaborates with local and state governments, universities, institutes, NGOs, and other civic institutions to support initiatives focused on engagement, leadership, and service.

“It has truly been an honor to work with Bob Graham for over a decade through his namesake Center for Public Service,” said David E. Richardson, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. “We became friends, and I will never forget his clear vision, kindness, non-partisan embrace of higher education, and love for our students. He has been a model for selfless service to Florida and the nation.”

Graham’s unwavering generosity also serendipitously led him to the person who would alter his personal life. It was on the steps of Tigert Hall that he stumbled into Adele Khoury, a UF freshman struggling with a physical science course and looking for a tutor. He offered his assistance, and their bond blossomed. Before graduating from UF, the couple became engaged, embarking on a remarkable 63-year marriage.

Graham is remembered across the state for guiding Florida’s growth as a Sunbelt powerhouse. He was a strong proponent of education, economic opportunity, and the environment, founded on his belief in the possibility of a positive relationship between politicians and the people they represent. He endeared himself to the people of Florida through a nationally recognized “Workdays” campaign that brought him to work in dozens of jobs for full days with minimal media presence.

Graham possessed a genuine, kind, and humble spirit often considered to be unparalleled on the national stage. He pioneered a political style grounded in hard work and experiential learning – demonstrating that a politician can remain honest while achieving remarkable success. He left Florida’s governorship with an 83% approval rating in the state, reflecting the deep connection he had with the people of the state.

He is remembered on the national level for achieving remarkable progress during his time in office. He worked across the political aisle as a national figure in the Democratic party who strived for bipartisanship, connecting with others on a genuine level to achieve results for the public. He advocated for civics to have a central role in education and shared the stories of Florida with the rest of the country.

He is remembered internationally for his expertise on foreign policy and intelligence and emphasis on justice, informing his steady leadership following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Graham had a well-known habit of meticulously logging his daily activities on pocket notebooks. His larger-than-life legacy is recorded in over 4,000 journals filled with Gov. Graham’s daily observations and encounters, which are now housed at the University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries.

Upon retiring from the U.S. Senate in January 2005, Graham served for a year as a senior fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. During that year, he began developing plans for a center modeled on the Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics to be located at the University of Florida.

“He founded the Bob Graham Center to help students develop the skills necessary for effective civic engagement, public leadership, and public service, and to create opportunities for students to ‘learn by doing,’ exemplified by his hundreds of memorable ‘work days,’” Jacobs said. “While we are deeply saddened by Bob Graham’s passing, we embrace the opportunity to continue building on his legacy through the Bob Graham Center for Public Service.”

The family has asked that expressions of sympathy may be made in the form of donations to the Bob Graham Center here.