Millard Caldwell

Millard Fillmore Caldwell (February 6, 1897 – October 23, 1984) was an American politician. He was the 29th Governor of Florida (1945–1949) and served in all three branches of government at various times in his life, including as a U.S. Representative and Florida Supreme Court justice.

Millard Caldwell
Administrator of the Federal Civil Defense Administration
In office
December 1, 1950 – November 15, 1952
PresidentHarry S. Truman
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byJames Jeremiah Wadsworth (Acting)
Chair of the National Governors Association
In office
May 26, 1946 – July 13, 1947
Preceded byEd Martin
Succeeded byHorace Hildreth
29th Governor of Florida
In office
January 2, 1945 – January 4, 1949
Preceded bySpessard Holland
Succeeded byFuller Warren
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 3rd district
In office
March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1941
Preceded byTom Yon
Succeeded byBob Sikes
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
In office
1930–1932
Personal details
Born
Millard Fillmore Caldwell

(1897-02-06)February 6, 1897
Beverly, Tennessee, U.S. (now Knoxville)
DiedOctober 23, 1984(1984-10-23) (aged 87)
Tallahassee, Florida, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Mary Harwood
Children3
EducationCarson–Newman University
University of Mississippi
University of Virginia
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1918–1919
Rank First Lieutenant
Battles/warsWorld War I

Biography

Caldwell was born in the rural area of Beverly, Tennessee, outside Knoxville. There he attended public schools and attended Carson-Newman College, the University of Mississippi, and the University of Virginia.[1] During World War I, Caldwell enlisted in the U.S. Army on April 3, 1918. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Field Artillery, and was discharged on January 11, 1919.[2]

Caldwell was married to Mary Harwood Caldwell; the couple's three children were Susan, Millard, and Sally. Caldwell moved to Milton, Florida in 1924, practicing law there.

Career
Portrait of Caldwell

In 1926, Caldwell began serving as prosecutor and county attorney of Santa Rosa County; in 1929, he was elected as a Democrat to the state House, where he was a member until 1932.

In 1944, Caldwell was elected governor of Florida. Taking office in 1945, Caldwell's term is noted for his segregationist beliefs, as well as his support for road construction projects and the establishment of the Educational Minimum Foundation Program, which gave education funds to rural counties. One of the more colorful aspects of Caldwell's term came on August 10, 1945, during the surrender of Japan in World War II, when Caldwell issued a proclamation urging bars and other alcohol-selling establishments to close in order to prevent a frenzy of drunken celebration in the streets.

After leaving office in 1949, Caldwell was appointed the administrator of the Federal Civil Defense Administration by then-President Harry S. Truman in 1950. After leaving this post in 1952, Caldwell served as a justice – and later chief justice – on the State Supreme Court from 1962 to 1969.

On May 14, 1953, Caldwell was initiated as an honorary brother in the Alpha Phi chapter of Alpha Kappa Psi at the University of Florida[3]

Death

Caldwell died in Tallahassee on October 23, 1984. He is interred at Blackwood-Harwood Plantations Cemetery in Leon County in Tallahassee, Florida.

During his life, Caldwell was a member of the Newcomen Society, Freemasons, Shriners, Elks, and Knights of Pythias. He was also a member of Kappa Sigma and Phi Alpha Delta.

See also
  • List of Governors of Florida

References
  1. "Florida Governor Millard Fillmore Caldwell Jr". National Governors Association. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
  2. National Governors Association
  3. Alpha Phi Chapter Roll
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Tom Yon		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 3rd congressional district
1933–1941		 Succeeded by
Bob Sikes
Party political offices
Preceded by
Spessard Holland		 Democratic nominee for Governor of Florida
1944		 Succeeded by
Fuller Warren
Political offices
Preceded by
Spessard Holland		 Governor of Florida
1945–1949		 Succeeded by
Fuller Warren
Preceded by
Ed Martin		 Chair of the National Governors Association
1946–1947		 Succeeded by
Horace Hildreth
New office Administrator of the Federal Civil Defense Administration
1950–1952		 Succeeded by
James Jeremiah Wadsworth
Acting
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