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Spessard Holland
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Spessard Holland
Spessard Lindsey Holland (July 10, 1892 – November 6, 1971) was an American lawyer and politician. A Southern Democrat, he served as the 28th governor of Florida from 1941 to 1945, and as a U.S. senator for Florida from 1946 to 1971. He was the first person born in Florida to serve as governor and U.S. senator for the state. While serving as a U.S. senator he would notably introduce the 24th Amendment.
During his tenure as governor, he was mainly preoccupied with preparations for World War II and the war itself. On the death of U.S. senator Charles O. Andrews, Holland was appointed by Governor Millard F. Caldwell on September 25, 1946, to serve out the rest of Andrews' term, which was to expire the following January. He was elected to a full term in November 1946 and was re-elected senator in 1952, 1958 and 1964, retiring in January 1971.
Spessard Holland was one of three children of Benjamin Franklin Holland and the former Fannie Virginia Spessard. Benjamin Holland was a Confederate veteran of the American Civil War, serving as a member of the Georgia State Line under Company I of the 2nd Regiment. Benjamin's father was the orderly sergeant for his son's unit. Benjamin was born in Carroll County, Georgia, in 1846 and was 17 when he joined the Georgia State Line in January 1864. He participated in the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, where he was wounded. In 1882 he moved to Bartow, Florida, where he created the first abstract company in Polk County; he eventually served as a member of the school board, as a county commissioner, and as the county treasurer.
Virginia Spessard, who was known by her middle name, moved to Bartow in 1889 and was a teacher at the Summerlin Institute (now Bartow High School) prior to her marriage. Benjamin and Virginia married in September 1890 in Monroe County, West Virginia.
Their son Spessard was born at his family's home at 390 East Church Street in Bartow, on July 10, 1892. He attended public schools, graduating from the Summerlin Institute in 1909. Holland graduated magna cum laude from Emory College (now Emory University) in Atlanta in 1912. Holland went on to teach high school in Warrenton, Georgia, from 1912 to 1914.
In 1916, Holland began attending law school at the University of Florida. There he taught in the "sub-freshman department" (high school) of the university. He also became the first elected student body president and a member of the debating society. During his time at Emory and UF, he participated in track and field, football, basketball, and baseball. On one occasion, he played so well as a pitcher in an exhibition game against the Philadelphia Athletics that Connie Mack (the grandfather of Connie Mack III, who later held the Senate seat Holland once occupied) offered him a contract that Holland ultimately declined.
Holland qualified for a Rhodes Scholarship, and was already a junior partner with R.B. Huffaker in the Huffaker & Holland law firm, but his plans were interrupted by World War I. He volunteered for service and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Coast Artillery Corps, where he was transferred to France and served in the brigade's JAG Corps as an assistant adjutant. At his request, Holland was later transferred to the 24th Aero Squadron, Signal Corps of the Army Air Corps. Here he served with Lieutenant George E. Goldthwaite as a gunner and aerial observer, gathering information and taking photographs in reconnaissance missions behind enemy lines. At various times Holland took part in battles at Meuse-Argonne, Champagne, St. Mihiel, and Lunéville, where he downed two enemy planes; on one mission, Holland's plane crash-landed in a crater. On December 11, 1918, Holland and Goldthwaite were each awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Holland's citation, signed by General John J. Pershing, noted:
Holland was promoted to captain. Once back in the U.S., he toured for the Victory Loan Drive. He then went to Fort Monroe, Virginia, where he resigned his commission in July 1919. Holland then resumed his law practice in Bartow.
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Spessard Holland
Spessard Lindsey Holland (July 10, 1892 – November 6, 1971) was an American lawyer and politician. A Southern Democrat, he served as the 28th governor of Florida from 1941 to 1945, and as a U.S. senator for Florida from 1946 to 1971. He was the first person born in Florida to serve as governor and U.S. senator for the state. While serving as a U.S. senator he would notably introduce the 24th Amendment.
During his tenure as governor, he was mainly preoccupied with preparations for World War II and the war itself. On the death of U.S. senator Charles O. Andrews, Holland was appointed by Governor Millard F. Caldwell on September 25, 1946, to serve out the rest of Andrews' term, which was to expire the following January. He was elected to a full term in November 1946 and was re-elected senator in 1952, 1958 and 1964, retiring in January 1971.
Spessard Holland was one of three children of Benjamin Franklin Holland and the former Fannie Virginia Spessard. Benjamin Holland was a Confederate veteran of the American Civil War, serving as a member of the Georgia State Line under Company I of the 2nd Regiment. Benjamin's father was the orderly sergeant for his son's unit. Benjamin was born in Carroll County, Georgia, in 1846 and was 17 when he joined the Georgia State Line in January 1864. He participated in the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, where he was wounded. In 1882 he moved to Bartow, Florida, where he created the first abstract company in Polk County; he eventually served as a member of the school board, as a county commissioner, and as the county treasurer.
Virginia Spessard, who was known by her middle name, moved to Bartow in 1889 and was a teacher at the Summerlin Institute (now Bartow High School) prior to her marriage. Benjamin and Virginia married in September 1890 in Monroe County, West Virginia.
Their son Spessard was born at his family's home at 390 East Church Street in Bartow, on July 10, 1892. He attended public schools, graduating from the Summerlin Institute in 1909. Holland graduated magna cum laude from Emory College (now Emory University) in Atlanta in 1912. Holland went on to teach high school in Warrenton, Georgia, from 1912 to 1914.
In 1916, Holland began attending law school at the University of Florida. There he taught in the "sub-freshman department" (high school) of the university. He also became the first elected student body president and a member of the debating society. During his time at Emory and UF, he participated in track and field, football, basketball, and baseball. On one occasion, he played so well as a pitcher in an exhibition game against the Philadelphia Athletics that Connie Mack (the grandfather of Connie Mack III, who later held the Senate seat Holland once occupied) offered him a contract that Holland ultimately declined.
Holland qualified for a Rhodes Scholarship, and was already a junior partner with R.B. Huffaker in the Huffaker & Holland law firm, but his plans were interrupted by World War I. He volunteered for service and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Coast Artillery Corps, where he was transferred to France and served in the brigade's JAG Corps as an assistant adjutant. At his request, Holland was later transferred to the 24th Aero Squadron, Signal Corps of the Army Air Corps. Here he served with Lieutenant George E. Goldthwaite as a gunner and aerial observer, gathering information and taking photographs in reconnaissance missions behind enemy lines. At various times Holland took part in battles at Meuse-Argonne, Champagne, St. Mihiel, and Lunéville, where he downed two enemy planes; on one mission, Holland's plane crash-landed in a crater. On December 11, 1918, Holland and Goldthwaite were each awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Holland's citation, signed by General John J. Pershing, noted:
Holland was promoted to captain. Once back in the U.S., he toured for the Victory Loan Drive. He then went to Fort Monroe, Virginia, where he resigned his commission in July 1919. Holland then resumed his law practice in Bartow.
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