Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize the outstanding work of a trailblazing public servant and one of the champions of the Florida equal rights and civil rights movements, the late Florida State Senator Helen Gordon Davis, who represented the Tampa Bay area in the Florida Legislature from 1974 until 1992.
Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize the outstanding work of a trailblazing public servant and one of the champions of the Florida equal rights and civil rights movements, the late Florida State Senator Helen Gordon Davis, who represented the Tampa Bay area in the Florida Legislature from 1974 until 1992. Senator Davis devoted her public service career to confronting and changing the inequalities in economic, legal and social status for women and African Americans. She was a true pioneer for pay equity for women. In 1980, Mrs. Davis was presented with the Florida ACLU Bill of Rights Award as a testament to her dedication for civil liberties for all. Senator Davis was elected to the Florida State House of Representatives in 1974 as the first woman from Hillsborough County to be elected to the Florida Legislature. She was subsequently re-elected six times. In 1988, Senator Davis successfully ran for the state Senate where she fought for economic equality for women, and sponsored the first legislation on sexual harassment. Among her many achievements, Mrs. Davis created the Marriage License Trust fund for Spouse Abuse Centers, Court Depositories for Child Support Payments, the Displaced Homemakers for Divorced Women Act, and doubled the penalties for hate crimes. With passion and courage, Mrs. Davis paved the way for future generations of Hillsborough County women in politics. Before her time as an influential legislator, Mrs. Davis was president of the League of Women Voters of Hillsborough County from 1966–1969. In 1971, Mrs. Davis founded Florida’s first women’s center which sought to help women succeed in the workplace and helped many gain tangible professional and life skills. Mrs. Davis was the first recipient of the VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:19 May 22, 2015 Jkt 049060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\K21MY8.001 E21MYPT1 smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with REMARKS E770 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks May 21, 2015 League of Women Voters of Hillsborough County’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Mrs. Davis was born on Christmas Day, 1926 in Brooklyn, New York. Originally a stage actress, Mrs. Davis moved to Tampa in 1948 with husband Gene Davis, where she was a high school drama teacher and regular fixture in the community theater. Although Mrs. Davis passed away on May 18, 2015, her legacy will continue through her broad-based legislative accomplishments, the Women’s Centre in the Hyde Park community of Tampa, and the women she championed both professionally and personally. Mrs. Davis is survived by her daughters Stephanie and Karen, her son Gordon, her sister Jeanne, and her two grandchildren. On behalf of the Tampa community, I am proud to recognize Helen Gordon Davis for her dedication to Hillsborough County, the State of Florida, and to women everywhere.
