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John Wayne Mixson (June 16, 1922 – July 8, 2020) was an American politician, farmer, and Navy veteran who served as the 39th governor of Florida for three days in January 1987, after having served as the 12th lieutenant governor of Florida from 1979 to 1987. Mixson served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1967 to 1978 prior to being elected as lieutenant governor. He was a lifelong conservative Democrat, and though he served in the Florida legislature and as Florida's lieutenant governor as a member of that party, he supported a mix of Democratic and Republican candidates for various state and national offices after retiring from elected office.

Key Information

Mixson was born and raised in New Brockton, Alabama. He served in the United States Navy during World War II, then attended college at Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania before moving to Florida and finishing his degree at the University of Florida in 1947. He became an active member of the American Farm Bureau Federation and served in multiple positions in the organization from the county to statewide level both before and after his terms in elected office.

Mixson entered politics in 1966, with an unsuccessful run in the Democratic primary election for a seat in the Florida Senate. In 1967, he won election to the Florida House of Representatives from Jackson County in the Florida panhandle and served a total of six terms as a state legislator. In 1978, Bob Graham, a state senator from South Florida, tapped Mixson to be his running mate to balance the ticket in his campaign for governor. They won, and Mixson was sworn in as Florida's 12th lieutenant governor in January 1979. The ticket of Graham and Mixson were reelected in 1982. but Graham was prohibited from running for a third term in 1986 due to Florida's term limit law. Instead, Graham ran for and won election to the United States Senate.

Mixson considered running for governor to replace Graham in 1986, but ultimately decided to retire from electoral politics and Republican Bob Martinez won the office. Graham's term in the U.S. Senate began three days before his term as governor ended, so he resigned effective January 3, 1987 to assume his new duties in Washington. As stipulated in state law, lieutenant governor Wayne Mixson briefly assumed the office of governor, and he held the office for about 72 hours before Martinez was inaugurated on January 6, 1987.

Early life and education

[edit]

John Wayne Mixson was born on June 16, 1922, in New Brockton, Alabama, to Cecil Marion Mixson and Mineola Moseley. Mixson's great-grandfather and great-uncle had both served as members of the Alabama Legislature.[1] In 1941, he graduated from high school and moved to Florida.[2] In 1942, Mixon joined the United States Navy. Mixson attended Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania before graduating from the University of Florida in 1947, with a degree in business administration.[3][4] On December 27, 1947, he married Margie Grace in Graceville, Florida.[5]

Farm Bureau

[edit]

During the 1950s he served as president of the Jackson County Farm Bureau.[6][7][8] Mixson was selected to replace Sandy Johnson as the Florida Farm Bureau's field representative in North Florida and took the position on June 15, 1954.[9] In 1955, he was selected to replace Sandy Johnson as organizational director of the Florida Farm Bureau.[10] From 1958 to 1960, he served as the southern regional director for the national Farm Bureau. In 1960, he became the director of industry relations and commodity activities for the Florida Farm Bureau.[11]

In 1961, Mixson resigned from his position within the Florida Farm Bureau to manage his farm and considered running in the 9th congressional district during the 1962 elections.[11] In 1963, he was selected to serve on the board of directors of the Jackson County Farm Bureau and was reelected in 1964, and 1966.[12][13][14]

In 1965, E. H. Finlayson, president of the Florida Farm Bureau, announced that he would not seek reelection, and Mixson ran to succeed him, but later withdrew. Art Karst was selected to replace Finlayson while Mixson was selected to serve as vice president.[15][16]

During the 1970s Mixson would serve as the only full-time farmer on the Agriculture committee in the Florida House of Representatives or as the only full-time farmer in the state House.[17][18] In 1977, he had a net worth of $256,200, assets worth $1,051,400, with $564,900 coming from his 1,883 acres of farm land and $150,000 from his cattle, and an income of $298,592, with a majority coming from cattle, peanuts, and grain sales.[19]

Career

[edit]
Wayne Mixson's portrait from the Florida House of Representatives in 1968

During the 1950s Mixson supported Republican presidential nominee Dwight D. Eisenhower.[20] During the 1964 presidential election he supported Republican nominees Barry Goldwater and William E. Miller. He also served as a member of the Florida Citizens For Goldwater-Miller committee.[21]

State legislature

[edit]

Elections

[edit]

Mixson ran for the Democratic nomination for the state Senate from the 6th district in 1966, but placed third behind Bill Pearce and L. P. Gibson.[22][23][24] In 1967, he ran for the Democratic nomination for the state House of Representatives from the 11th district.[25] In the primary he defeated incumbent Representative Coy J. Mitchell and later faced no opposition in the general election.[26][27] In 1968 and 1970, he won reelection.[28][29]

On June 29, 1972, he announced that he would seek reelection to the House of Representatives.[30][31] In the Democratic primary he defeated John Grace, a 26 year old veteran of the Vietnam War, and in the general election Mixson faced no opposition.[32][33][34] In 1974, he was reelected.[35]

Tenure

[edit]

During the 1967–1968 session of the House of Representatives Mixson served on the Ad Valorem Taxation, Appropriations, Claims, Public Health and Welfare, and State Institutions committees.[36] During the 1968–1970 session of the House of Representatives he served as the vice chairman of the Agriculture committee and as a member of the Ad Valorem Taxation, and Transportation committees.[37] During the 1970–1972 session of the House of Representatives he served as the vice chairman of Community Affairs committee and as a member of the Agriculture, Appropriations, and Migrant Affairs committees.[38][39][40]

In 1971, Mixson was selected to serve as a Majority Whip alongside John Clark, Elvin L. Martinez, Roy Hess, Ed Fortune, John Forbes, Lew Whitworth, and Harold Featherstone. Each whip was placed in charge of ten of the eighty-one Democratic members of the House.[41]

During the 1972 Democratic presidential primaries he supported Senator Henry M. Jackson.[42]

In January 1972, Mixson was selected by Speaker Richard Pettigrew to replace Howell Lancaster as chairman of the Agriculture committee due to Lancaster's death.[43] During the 1973–1975 session of the House of Representatives he served as the chairman of Agriculture committee and as a member of the Rules, and Community Affairs committees.[44]

In 1973, an impeachment inquiry was held for Lieutenant Governor Thomas Burton Adams Jr. for using public employees for personal financial gain during his service as Secretary of Commerce. On May 17, the House of Representatives voted 61 to 55 in favor of impeaching Adams, but needed a two-thirds majority of 78 to impeach him. Mixson had voted against impeaching. After failing to impeach Adams the House of Representatives voted 88 to 26 in favor of censuring Adams for using the office for personal gain, which Mixson voting in support of the censure motion.[45][46]

During the 1975–1977 session of the House of Representatives he served as the chairman of Agriculture, and General legislation committees and as a member of the Appropriations, Community Affairs, and Rules committees.[47][48] During the 1977–1979 session of the House of Representatives he served as the chairman of Agriculture, and General legislation committees and as a member of the Appropriations, and Rules committees.[49]

On June 2, 1975, the House of Representatives voted 104 to 15, with Mixson voting against, in favor of impeaching state Treasurer Tom O'Malley.[50]

Lieutenant governor

[edit]

Elections

[edit]
1978
[edit]
County results of the 1978 Florida gubernatorial election

During the 1978 Florida gubernatorial election Mixson was speculated as a possible lieutenant gubernatorial nominee for both Bob Graham and Robert L. Shevin.[51][52] In January 1978, Shevin listed Mixson as one of his five candidates for the position alongside state Senators Lori Wilson, Betty Castor, James Glisson, and state Speaker of the House T. Terrell Sessums.[53]

On March 18, Mixson announced that he would be Graham's running mate, but Graham stated on March 19, that a final decision had not been made yet.[54][55] On March 30, Graham announced that Mixson would serve as his lieutenant governor as Mixson could appeal to rural voters in northern Florida.[56] Following his selection he was endorsed by the Jackson County Floridian, the daily newspaper in Marianna, Florida, where Mixson lived, and by Guy Long, president of the NAACP in Jackson County, who held a press conference to refute rumors of Mixson being a redneck racist.[57]

Mixson was accused of stating "You all might think you have the nigger vote sewed up in Jackson County, but the truth is, whoever pays 'em last gets it" at Miami's Tiger Bay Club on August 16, by the Miami Herald. Graham and Mixson stated that Mixson did not make that statement.[58][59]

In the Democratic gubernatorial primary runoff Graham and Mixson defeated Shevin and Glisson with 482,535 votes to 418,636 votes.[60] In the general election Graham and Mixson defeated Jack Eckerd and Paula Hawkins, the Republican gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial nominees.[61] Sam Mitchell was elected to succeed Mixson in the Florida House of Representatives from the 7th district.[62]

1982
[edit]

In April 1981, Mixson stated that he would seek reelection with Graham in 1982, however, on June 23, he stated that he might not run due to him feeling that he had been cut out of administration decisions as Graham became more reliant on his advisers Garry Smith and Steve Hull.[63] However, after Mixson made the statement Graham held a ninety-minute meeting to discuss Mixson's complaints, and on June 24, Mixson stated that "I think Bob Graham's the greatest governor Florida has ever had, I'm very rewarded to be a part of his team" and that he would still seek reelection.[64]

Mixson was the first lieutenant governor of Florida to win reelection to a second term.[65]

Tenure

[edit]

On January 2, 1979, Mixson was inaugurated as the 12th Lieutenant Governor of Florida by Chief Justice Arthur J. England Jr. of the Supreme Court of Florida.[66]

On January 22, Mixson led a 37-member delegation, as Governor Graham was unable, to Guatemala City, Guatemala, for the state's fourth trade mission called the "Intercambio Comercial", with the past three being to Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela, meant to increase trade between Florida and Central and South America. The trade mission was the first overseas trip sponsored by Graham's gubernatorial administration.[67][68]

In 1979, President Jimmy Carter appointed Mixson as special ambassador to Ecuador.[69] During the 1980 presidential election Mixson supported President Carter.[70] At the state Democratic convention Mixson was selected to serve as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in support of Carter alongside Graham, James C. Smith, Doyle Conner, Claude Pepper, Hazel Talley Evans, and Phyllis Miller.[71]

From February 10 to 16, 1980, Mixson was meant to lead a 35-member delegation, which included Agriculture Commissioner Doyle Conner, state House Speaker J. Hyatt Brown, and Commerce Secretary Sidney Levin, during Florida's fifth Intercambio Comercial to Quito and Guayaquil, Ecuador.[72][73] However, he was unable to lead the delegation as he had been selected to replace Ronnie Book as the head of Graham's legislative lobbying staff and had to lobby for Graham's 1980 tax reform legislation.[74][75]

In April 1980, Mixson was criticized for his intervening to prevent the suspension of Marianna Circuit Court Clerk Raymond Bruner. The Florida Ethics Commission voted four to one, with Mixson being the only vote against, in favor of recommending the suspension of Bruner for allegations that he had used his position as clerk to sexually harass fourteen employees. Mixson later sent a letter to Graham written by Bruner's lawyers alleging that Bruner was the victim of a political conspiracy.[76] On June 27, Graham signed an executive order to suspend Bruner with the order stating that "these women were subjected to improper sexual advances in actual physical form, including actual physical touching, grabbing, kissing or attempted kissing, pinching, patting, and rubbing, all against their will" and accused Bruner of attempting to cover up the allegations.[77][78]

On April 29, 1980, Alabama Governor Fob James proclaimed "Wayne Mixson Day" in honor of Mixson giving an address to the Alabama state legislature on the same day.[1]

In 1985, Mixson served as Florida's representative at President Ronald Reagan's second inaugural address.[79]

Governor

[edit]
Mixon's official portrait

After serving as Florida's governor for the maximum two consecutive terms,[80] Bob Graham was elected to the United States Senate in November 1986. He soon announced that he planned to resign as Florida's governor to assume his new role on January 3, three days before the end of his term. Mixson would therefore become Florida's governor in the interim.[81] Prior to taking the office Mixson received letters asking either for themselves to be appointed as his lieutenant governor-designate or to appoint a black, Hispanic, or a woman as a symbolic gesture.[82]

On January 3, Mixson was inaugurated as the 39th Governor of Florida by Florida’s Chief Justice Parker Lee McDonald of the Florida Supreme Court.[83] He was the second lieutenant governor to assume the governorship.[84] During his three-day gubernatorial tenure, Mixson held one cabinet meeting and one press conference, appointed a new Secretary of Commerce, made 105 appointments, and signed over 800 letters.[85][86] Mixon's brief term as governor ended on January 6, when Bob Martinez was inaugurated as the 40th Governor of Florida. Martinez recalled one of the political appointments made by Mixson along with 277 political appointments made by Graham, as the Florida Senate had not yet approved the appointments.[87]

Mixson stated that "my goal was to be the governor who did the least damage to Florida during his term in office."[88]

Later life

[edit]

After leaving office Mixson was selected to serve to serve as a member of the First Florida Bank of Tallahassee's board of directors and as a member of the Bankers Insurance Group's board of directors.[89][90] In April 1987, he wrote a letter criticizing a proposed 5% sales tax on insurance premiums and called for mass protests against it.[91] In May, Mixson was elected to the board of trustees in Tallahassee, Florida.[92]

In 1987, Governor Martinez appointed Mixson to serve on the Florida Transportation Commission alongside David Kerr, Kaye Henderson, John Browning, Arthur Hill, Arthur Kennedy, Wayne Reece, and Robert Wilhelm.[93] In 1988, Martinez appointed Mixson to serve as the director of PRIDE, which ran prison industries in Florida.[94]

In 1988, Mixson supported Bill Gunter for the Democratic nomination for the Senate election and supported John W. Vogt for the Democratic nomination for insurance commissioner.[95][96] During the 1994 Senate election he supported incumbent Republican Senator Connie Mack III.[97]

In 1996, Mixson was inducted into the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame.[98] Mixson was given an honorary doctorate from the Florida Institute of Technology.[99]

During the 1994 Florida gubernatorial election Mixson supported incumbent Democratic Governor Lawton Chiles against Republican nominee Jeb Bush. However, during the 1998 Florida gubernatorial election he supported Bush against Lieutenant Governor Buddy MacKay although Mixson still supported Graham for reelection to the Senate against Republican nominee Charlie Crist.[100]

During the 2000 presidential election Mixson supported Texas Governor George W. Bush's presidential campaign.[101] During the 2000 Senate election he supported Republican nominee Bill McCollum against Democratic nominee Bill Nelson.[102] During the 2004 Democratic presidential primaries Mixson supported and donated to Graham's presidential campaign.[103] However, after Graham dropped out of the presidential primary Mixson supported President Bush for reelection in the 2004 presidential election.[104]

Throughout his time in public service, Mixson was viewed widely as a conservative Democrat.[105] In 2012, he changed his voter registration status to identify as a Republican.[106]

In 2014, the Florida State Senate designated Highway 73 out of Marianna Florida to be the Governor Wayne Mixson Highway. Both Governor and Mrs. Mixson were present for the dedication ceremony in September 2014.[107]

In 2015, Mixson wrote the foreword for the first complete book of the Florida Governorship, Robert Buccellato's Florida Governors: Lasting Legacies.[108]

Death

[edit]

Mixson died on July 8, 2020, in Tallahassee, Florida, at the age of 98.[109]

Political positions

[edit]

Abortion

[edit]

Mixson was in favor of allowing abortions in the cases of rape, incest, deformity, and if the health of the mother was threatened. In 1970, he voted against legislation that would have left the decision of an abortion to the woman and her doctor.[110]

Agriculture

[edit]

In 1967, Mixson and state Senator Elmer O. Friday introduced a resolution calling for the United States Congress and President Lyndon B. Johnson to maintain protective tariffs on agricultural imports. The resolution was later approved by the state House of Representatives.[111]

In 1969, he introduced legislation that would give sheriffs the ability to declare a state of emergency if overt acts of violence or imminent threat of violence occurs within a county and if the governor has not yet declared a state of emergency. The legislation also gave governing bodies the ability to designate another official with the power to declare a state of emergency.[112]

Civil rights

[edit]

In 1972, Mixson voted in favor of leaving the phrase "prohibit forced busing" in a voter referendum on desegregation busing.[113]

In 1972, he voted against a referendum on lowering the voting age from 21 years old to 18 years old.[114]

In 1973, he opposed the Equal Rights Amendment stating that the amendment would take more rights away from women than it would give them.[115] The state House of Representatives voted 64 to 54, with Mixson against, against ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment.[116] Mixson cosponsored legislation created by Charles Papy that would prohibit gender discrimination in employment, banking, and education.[117] In 1975, the state House of Representatives voted 61 to 58, with Mixson voting against, in favor of ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment.[118] Despite personally being against the Equal Rights Amendment he lobbied for its passage while serving as Governor Graham's chief lobbyist.[119]

Crime

[edit]

In 1967, the state House of Representatives voted 61 to 53, with Mixson against, against legislation that would require a majority of the members of a jury to support the use of capital punishment. Florida law at the time required a majority of the jury to vote to not use capital punishment.[120][121]

In 1971, he voted in favor of legislation that would institute a $5,000 fine for violations of pollution laws.[122] In 1971, he voted in favor of legislation that would reduce the penalty for possession of marijuana from a felony to a misdemeanor.[123] In 1977, the state House of Representatives voted 72 to 35, with Mixson voting in favor, in favor of legislation that would allow security guards at mental health facilities to use Mace on patients in emergency situations.[124]

In 1979, Mixson supported Graham's decision to sign the death warrant permitting the execution of John Spenkelink, the first execution carried out after capitol punishment was reinstated, and stated that he and Graham were "strong supporters" of the death penalty when they were members of the state House.[125]

Development

[edit]

During his tenure in the state legislature Mixson and state Senator Lawton Chiles introduced legislation creating sinkhole insurance.[126]

Mixson supported the use of nuclear power and stated that accidents at the Crystal River Nuclear Plant shouldn't deter the development of nuclear facilities.[127][128]

Employment

[edit]

In 1972, Mixson voted in favor of right-to-work legislation.[129] In 1973, Mixson and Lewis Earle co-wrote right-to-work legislation, which would prohibit the denial of work due to membership or non-membership of a union.[130][131] He stated that unions would preserve the drudgery and rigors of hand harvesting methods.[132]

In 1977, Mixson was one of twelve members of the state House of Representatives that was given a 0% rating by the Florida Education Association-United.[133]

During the 1979 oil crisis Mixson opposed the energy saving policy of banning gasoline sales on weekends proposed by President Jimmy Carter as it would cost Florida's economy $100 million and 29,000 jobs.[134] Mixson later called for an increased taxation on gasoline to as the oil crisis reduced gasoline taxation by $100 million.[135]

Gambling

[edit]

In 1967, Mixson voted against legislation that would have legalized the use of Bingo by non-profit organizations.[136]

During the 1978 gubernatorial campaign he stated that legalized casino gambling would reduce tourism to Florida as "families come here to see our beaches, and our natural wonders, but if we create a Las Vegas-type atmosphere, we'll lose them."[137]

Government

[edit]

In 1967, Mixson opposed a plan that would have reduced the amount of Florida counties from 67 to 50.[138] He and William Inman introduced legislation that would allow for a new city charter to be given to Chattahoochee, Florida.[139] He also introduced legislation that would raise the jurisdiction of small claims courts in Jackson County from cases involving less than $250 to cases involving less than $750.[140]

In 1977, the state House of Representatives voted 73 to 31, with Mixson voting against, in favor of a motion to kill a resolution urging the United States Congress to abolish the electoral college and replace it with the direct election of the president using the popular vote.[141]

Electoral history

[edit]
1966 Florida Senate 6th district Democratic primary[24]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic L. P. Gibson (incumbent) 30,372 30.55%
Democratic Bill Pearce (incumbent) 16,406 16.50%
Democratic Wayne Mixson 15,482 15.57%
Democratic John Due 14,036 14.12%
Democratic Jackson Bryan 8,986 9.04%
Democratic Tom Davis 8,114 8.16%
Democratic Ed Bush 3,115 3.13%
Democratic Odis Murphy 2,902 2.92%
Total votes 99,413 100.00%
1967 Florida House of Representatives 11th district election[26][27]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Wayne Mixson 5,300 62.40%
Democratic Coy J. Mitchell (incumbent) 3,194 37.60%
Total votes 8,494 100.00%
General election
Democratic Wayne Mixson 5,653 100.00%
Total votes 5,653 100.00%
1972 Florida House of Representatives 11th district Democratic primary[33]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Wayne Mixson (incumbent) 7,185 85.05%
Democratic John Grace 1,263 14.95%
Total votes 8,448 100.00%
1976 Florida House of Representatives 11th district Democratic primary[142]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Wayne Mixson (incumbent) 3,648 78.54%
Democratic Dennis Casey 997 21.46%
Total votes 4,645 100.00%
1978 Florida Governor and Lieutenant Governor Democratic primary[143]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robert L. Shevin / Jim Glisson 364,732 35.15%
Democratic Bob Graham / Wayne Mixson 261,972 25.25%
Democratic Hans G. Tanzler / Manuel Arques 124,706 12.02%
Democratic Jim Williams / Betty Castor 124,427 11.99%
Democratic Bruce A. Smathers / Charles W. Boyd 85,298 8.22%
Democratic Claude R. Kirk, Jr. / Mary L. Singleton 62,534 6.03%
Democratic Leroy Eden / Maria Kay 13,864 1.34%
Total votes 1,037,533 100.00%
1978 Florida Governor and Lieutenant Governor Democratic runoff[144]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bob Graham / Wayne Mixson 482,535 53.55%
Democratic Robert L. Shevin / Jim Glisson 418,636 46.45%
Total votes 901,171 100.00%
1978 Florida Governor and Lieutenant Governor general election[145]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bob Graham / Wayne Mixson 1,406,580 55.58%
Republican Jack Eckerd / Paula Hawkins 1,123,888 44.42%
Total votes 2,530,468 100.00%
1982 Florida Governor and Lieutenant Governor election[146][147]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bob Graham / Wayne Mixson 839,128 84.47%
Democratic Fred Kuhn / Jeffrey L. Latham 93,083 9.37%
Democratic Robert P. Kunst / Gary Bryant 61,191 6.16%
Total votes 993,402 100.00%
General election
Democratic Bob Graham / Wayne Mixson 1,739,553 64.70%
Republican Skip Bafalis / Leo Callahan 949,013 35.30%
Total votes 2,688,566 100.00%

References

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Wayne Mixson

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from Grokipedia
John Wayne Mixson (June 16, 1922 – July 8, 2020) was an American politician, farmer, and veteran who served as the 39th governor of for three days in January 1987, the shortest tenure in state history, after ascending from the office of , which he held from 1979 to 1987 under Governor . Born in New Brockton, , Mixson relocated to following high school graduation and enlisted in the United States Navy in 1942, serving during in a lighter-than-air unit focused on anti-submarine patrol duties until 1946; he later pursued education at and the under the Navy V-12 officer training program. Mixson entered politics as a Democrat, winning election to represent Jackson County in the in 1966 for six consecutive terms through 1978, during which he chaired the Agriculture Committee for eight years and advocated for farming interests reflective of his background as a peanut and cotton farmer in the . Elected on Graham's ticket in 1978, Mixson handled administrative duties including oversight of and ; Graham's on January 3, 1987, to assume a U.S. seat elevated Mixson to until Bob Martinez's inauguration on January 6, during which Mixson signed routine but declined to pursue further ambitions for the office. Post-governorship, Mixson remained active in agricultural advocacy and was inducted into the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame in 1996 for his legislative efforts supporting rural economies and farm policy reforms.

Early life and education

Family background and upbringing

John Wayne Mixson was born on June 16, 1922, on his family's near New Brockton in , to parents Cecil Marion Mixson (1898–1961) and Mineola Pansy Moseley (1900–1962). The Mixson family operated a small in rural , where young Wayne contributed to agricultural labor amid the hardships of the , which exacerbated economic challenges for farming households in the region during the 1930s. Mixson's upbringing emphasized self-reliance and rural values shaped by farm life, with limited formal details on early education beyond completing high school locally in New Brockton. Upon graduating high school around 1940, he relocated to , settling in Jackson County, marking the transition from his Alabama roots to a new agrarian environment that influenced his later pursuits in and .

Military service

John Wayne Mixson enlisted in the in 1942, shortly after the United States entered . Following a brief period of civilian work at Tyndall Field in , he completed basic training at the Naval Training Center Great Lakes. Mixson was assigned to a "lighter than air" unit specializing in blimp operations for anti-submarine duties, contributing to coastal defense efforts against German U-boats in the Atlantic. He was subsequently selected for the Navy's V-12 program, which allowed him to pursue higher education while preparing for potential commissioned roles; this included studies at in New York and the . Mixson's naval service ended with the conclusion of in 1945, after which he utilized veterans' benefits to complete his formal education. No specific combat engagements or decorations are prominently documented in available records, reflecting the primarily defensive nature of blimp patrols during his tenure.

Pre-political career in agriculture

After returning from in , Mixson purchased a small farm in Campbellton, , which he expanded into a 2,000-acre operation focused on ranching, cultivation, and grain production. This enterprise sustained him for over four decades, reflecting his deep roots in North Florida's agricultural economy, where was known for its and sectors. During the 1950s, Mixson served as president of the Jackson County Farm Bureau, advocating for rural infrastructure improvements, including the installation of telephone lines to connect isolated farming communities. His leadership in the organization highlighted practical concerns of small-scale farmers, such as access to communication and markets, prior to any formal political involvement. In 1961, he resigned from his Farm Bureau role to devote full attention to managing his expanding farm operations.

Political career

Florida House of Representatives


John Wayne Mixson began his legislative career in the after winning election in for the seat representing Jackson County in the state's northwestern panhandle. He assumed office on November 8, 1967, and served six consecutive two-year terms until 1979, representing rural agricultural interests in during much of his tenure. As a member of the Democratic Party, Mixson emerged as a key figure on agriculture-related matters, chairing the House Committee for several years and advocating for policies supporting Florida's farming sector, including peanut growers given his background as a in Jackson County. He also contributed to legislation, helping shape bills that addressed and rural needs during a period of population growth and economic shifts in the state. His work emphasized practical support for agricultural communities, reflecting his pre-political experience in farming and naval service-related discipline. In 1978, rather than seeking a seventh term in the House, Mixson campaigned successfully for alongside , transitioning from legislative roles to executive service. During his House tenure, he built a reputation for conservative fiscal approaches within the Democratic caucus, prioritizing state resources for and rural development over expansive new programs.

Lieutenant Governor of Florida

In the 1978 Florida gubernatorial election held on November 7, selected Wayne Mixson as his running mate for to appeal to conservative voters in the rural Panhandle region. The Democratic ticket of Graham and Mixson defeated the Republican ticket of and Paula Hawkins, securing 1,406,580 votes or 55.59% of the total. Mixson was sworn in as the 12th on January 2, 1979. The Graham-Mixson ticket was re-elected in 1982, allowing Mixson to serve a second consecutive term until January 3, 1987. As lieutenant governor, Mixson presided over sessions of the and cast tie-breaking votes when necessary, in accordance with the state constitution. Additionally, Governor Graham appointed Mixson as Secretary of the Department of Commerce, where he focused on initiatives supporting and rural areas. During his tenure, Mixson contributed to the Graham administration's emphasis on growth management and , though his primary visibility stemmed from his legislative oversight role and departmental leadership rather than independent policy initiatives.

Governorship of Florida

John Wayne Mixson ascended to the governorship of on January 3, 1987, following the resignation of incumbent Governor , who departed to assume his seat in the United States after winning election in 1986. As , Mixson was next in the line of succession and was sworn in as the state's 39th during a ceremony in the chamber. Mixson's tenure lasted from January 3 to January 6, 1987, spanning just three days and marking the shortest gubernatorial term in history. This brief interlude occurred amid the transition to newly elected , who was inaugurated on January 8, 1987, following his victory in the 1986 gubernatorial election as a Republican—the first since 1970. The brevity stemmed from 's constitutional provisions for succession and the timing of Graham's resignation to facilitate the orderly transfer of power. During his short time in office, Mixson maintained a limited agenda focused on routine administrative duties rather than major policy initiatives, given the transitional nature of the period. He participated in ceremonial functions, including his , but no significant or executive actions were enacted under his direct authority that altered state policy. Mixson's role underscored the lieutenant governor's constitutional duty to assume the governorship temporarily, preserving continuity without pursuing an independent agenda.

Political ideology and positions

Party affiliation and conservatism

Mixson was a member of the Democratic Party during his entire tenure in elected office, representing Florida's 9th district in the state House of Representatives from 1967 to 1978, serving two terms as from 1979 to 1987 alongside , and ascending to the governorship for three days in January 1987 following Graham's resignation to join the U.S. Senate. Within the Democratic Party, Mixson was widely regarded as a conservative, particularly as a representative of the rural, agriculture-dependent , where he prioritized fiscal restraint and traditional values over progressive reforms. This orientation aligned him with the "" or conservative of the era, who often diverged from national party lines on social and economic issues. Post-retirement, Mixson's conservative inclinations led him to support Republican candidates, including being among the first prominent Democrats to back Jeb Bush's successful gubernatorial bid, signaling a pragmatic willingness to prioritize policy alignment over strict partisanship. His legislative record further evidenced this , such as his 1973 opposition to ratifying the , which he argued would erode more protections for women than it would grant.

Economic and fiscal policies

Mixson, characterized as a fiscal conservative within the Democratic Party, opposed the 1983 unitary enacted by the under Governor , which imposed taxation on the worldwide income of multinational corporations to finance education spending. This policy, aimed at capturing apportioned shares of global profits, provoked widespread business opposition for risking and economic disincentives, with Mixson publicly dissenting from Graham's support. In 2005, reflecting on such measures, Mixson authored an likening Florida's substitute communications to the unitary , urging its repeal to prevent similar deterrent effects on and growth. As and appointed of from 1982 to 1987, Mixson prioritized economic expansion through industrial recruitment and job creation, leveraging his agricultural background to advocate for policies enhancing Florida's competitive position nationally. His efforts focused on bolstering sectors like and , viewing them as engines for and without reliance on broad tax hikes. During the , he resisted federal proposals for weekend gasoline sales bans, citing projected losses of $100 million in state economic activity and 29,000 jobs, though he later endorsed gasoline tax increases to offset shortfalls from reduced consumption. In his abbreviated governorship from January 3 to January 8, 1987, Mixson maintained fiscal restraint by imposing no new taxes and personally funding costs estimated at $15,000, underscoring a preference for minimal government expenditure. This aligned with his broader philosophy of balancing budgets through growth-oriented policies rather than expansive fiscal interventions, consistent with his legislative record chairing committees that supported rural economic vitality without disproportionate state outlays.

Agriculture and rural development

During his tenure in the from 1967 to 1987, Mixson chaired the House Agriculture Committee for eight years, sponsoring or advancing hundreds of legislative measures that impacted , , , field crops, and other agricultural sectors. As the committee's only full-time farmer member during the , he prioritized practical reforms drawn from his experience operating a 2,000-acre , , and farm in Jackson County. These efforts included targeted initiatives to eradicate hog , a that had devastated Florida's swine industry, contributing to its statewide elimination by the late through coordinated and programs. Mixson advocated for rural infrastructure improvements, such as extending services to underserved farming communities during his presidency of the Jackson County Farm Bureau in the 1950s, addressing isolation that hindered and emergency response for producers. His legislative record emphasized protecting agricultural interests against urban expansion pressures, including opposition to county consolidation proposals in 1967 that would have diminished rural representation. In parallel, he supported industrial recruitment to rural , aiming to generate non-farm jobs while preserving agricultural viability, as articulated in his post-legislative reflections on balancing economic growth with farming sustainability. As from 1979 to 1987, Mixson continued championing rural economic policies under , leveraging his Farm Bureau ties to facilitate state-federal partnerships for and pest management, though his brief three-day governorship in January 1987 yielded no substantive policy changes in this domain. His contributions earned induction into the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame in 1996, recognizing sustained advocacy for farmers amid Florida's post-World War II agricultural boom, when the state's farm output grew from $1.2 billion in 1960 to over $4 billion by 1980.

Social and civil issues

Mixson held conservative positions on , publicly endorsing Governor Bob Graham's support for executions as a deterrent to . As a rural Democrat from the , his legislative record reflected resistance to federal mandates on civil enforcement, including opposition to court-ordered busing for desegregation, prioritizing local control over education. On , he opposed ratification of the , contending it could erode protections in areas like Selective Service exemptions and certain labor regulations for women. Regarding , Mixson favored restrictions but permitted exceptions in cases of or , aligning with a moderate pro-life stance common among Southern conservatives of the era. These views underscored his broader philosophy favoring traditional social structures over expansive government-driven reforms.

Government and taxation

Mixson, a , emphasized fiscal policies aimed at promoting economic growth while maintaining essential state revenues, often prioritizing business-friendly measures over broad expansions. During his service as under , he vocally opposed the 1983 enactment of Florida's unitary , which apportioned a portion of multinational corporations' global income to the state based on in-state activity, primarily to fund spending. Mixson criticized the policy as detrimental to Florida's competitiveness, reportedly dubbing it the "Urinary Tax" in reference to its perceived unappealing effects on investment, and advocated for its prompt repeal amid backlash from businesses fearing and litigation. The was indeed repealed in 1984 after generating significant opposition and economic concerns, including threats from companies like Firestone to relocate operations. In the (1967–1979), Mixson contributed to committees overseeing ation and state spending, reflecting a preference for targeted revenues over expansive impositions. He later endorsed alternatives to corporate income taxes, such as user fees, and in post-political roles with organizations like Florida TaxWatch—a nonpartisan taxpayer —he pushed for eliminating inefficient levies, including the substitute communications , to reduce burdens on providers and consumers without increasing overall state outlays. Mixson's approach to government structure favored restraint in revenue generation to avoid overreach, as evidenced by his resistance to gambling legalization for fiscal gain; he opposed a 1967 bill to permit bingo operations, which proponents argued would bolster local and state coffers without raising traditional taxes. This stance aligned with his broader advocacy for efficient, intervention, particularly in supporting and rural economies without subsidizing non-essential expansions. In retirement, he continued critiquing regulatory overreach tied to taxation, reinforcing his reputation for fiscal prudence amid Florida's growth pressures.

Later life and legacy

Retirement and post-political activities

Following his brief tenure as , which concluded on , 1987, Mixson retired from elective office and focused on his longstanding private business pursuits, particularly farming in , where he had operated as a full-time farmer throughout his political career. Mixson joined the boards of directors for multiple organizations, including Bankers Insurance Company, First Community Bank in St. Petersburg, First Community Insurance Company of , the Economic Club, TaxWatch, the Foundation, and the Community Foundation. In 1996, he was inducted into the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame for his leadership in rural infrastructure improvements, such as installing telephones in farm areas and eradicating hog cholera, as well as his legislative advocacy for agriculture during his time in the Florida House. Mixson received an honorary doctorate from the . Despite his Democratic affiliation, he endorsed Republican Jeb Bush's successful 1998 gubernatorial campaign, becoming one of the earliest prominent Democrats to do so, and later supported Republican presidential candidates in 1996 and in 2004.

Death

John Wayne Mixson died on July 8, 2020, at the age of 98. He passed away peacefully early that morning at his home in Tallahassee, Florida. Mixson was survived by his wife of 72 years, Margie Grace Mixson.

Historical assessment

Mixson's brief tenure as the 39th Governor of Florida, spanning January 3 to January 8, 1987, following Bob Graham's resignation to assume a U.S. Senate seat, is widely regarded as the shortest in state history and primarily transitional in nature. During this period, he focused on maintaining administrative continuity, including ceremonial functions and routine executive actions, without enacting major policy initiatives due to the abbreviated timeframe. This interlude ensured a seamless handover to Republican Bob Martinez, underscoring Mixson's role as a reliable Democratic functionary in a era of shifting party dynamics in Florida politics. Beyond the governorship, historical evaluations emphasize Mixson's substantive contributions through his 12-year service in the Florida House of Representatives (1967–1978), where he chaired the Agriculture Committee for eight years and sponsored hundreds of bills advancing farming, education, and rural infrastructure. As lieutenant governor from 1979 to 1987, including a stint as Secretary of Commerce in his second term, he prioritized industrial recruitment and agricultural enhancement, aligning with his background as a 2,000-acre cattle rancher in Jackson County. These efforts, rooted in practical advocacy for Panhandle farmers—such as early Farm Bureau leadership to extend telephone services—earned him induction into the Florida Agriculture Hall of Fame in 1996 and the naming of a highway segment in his honor in 2014. Retrospectives, including post-2020 obituaries, portray Mixson as an affable, uncontroversial figure whose legacy lies in bolstering rural amid Florida's , rather than high-profile reforms. A 2021 biography highlights enduring impacts from his legislative and executive roles on state and job creation, positioning him as a steady advocate for practical, sector-specific progress over ideological flash. Lacking scandals or polarizing stances, his career exemplifies the influence of regional, agriculture-focused Democrats in mid-20th-century Southern politics, though his overall historical footprint remains modest given the governorship's brevity.

Electoral history

Florida House of Representatives elections

Mixson began his legislative career by winning election to the in March 1967, representing the 11th District centered in Jackson County in the state's rural Panhandle region. This victory followed an unsuccessful bid for the in the 1966 Democratic primary. As a Democrat, he served six consecutive terms through re-elections in the general elections of 1968, 1970, 1972, 1974, and 1976, departing the chamber in January 1979 upon assuming the office of . His district, characterized by agricultural interests and conservative leanings typical of at the time, aligned with Mixson's background as a and veteran, facilitating consistent electoral success in an era when Democrats dominated state legislative seats in the region. Specific vote tallies from these contests are not widely documented in , but his repeated victories underscore strong local support amid minimal Republican competition in Jackson County during the and . In 1978, rather than seeking another House term, Mixson pursued the lieutenant governorship as Bob Graham's running mate, marking the end of his legislative tenure.

Lieutenant gubernatorial elections

In the 1978 Florida election for governor and lieutenant governor, held on November 7, Wayne Mixson served as the Democratic running mate to after Graham secured the gubernatorial nomination in the Democratic primary. The joint ticket garnered 1,406,580 votes, or 55.6 percent of the total, defeating the Republican nominees for governor and Paula Hawkins for , who received 1,123,888 votes, or 44.4 percent. Mixson's selection balanced the ticket with his background as a and six-term state representative from rural Jackson County in the , appealing to agricultural and conservative voters within the Democratic base. Mixson and Graham were reelected in the 1982 Florida election for and on November 2, securing 1,739,553 votes, equivalent to 64.7 percent, against the Republican ticket of Skip Bafalis for and Leo Callahan for , who obtained 949,013 votes, or 35.3 percent. As incumbents, the Democratic pair benefited from Graham's established record on and , alongside Mixson's low-profile support for and , contributing to a amid a national Democratic resurgence in gubernatorial races that year. Mixson did not seek a third term as following the 1982 election.

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