Bob Graham receives posthumous governor’s Medal of Freedom
Gov. Ron DeSantis has posthumously awarded Florida’s highest civilian distinction, the Medal of Freedom, to former Governor and U.S. Senator Bob Graham (1936-2024). This recognition celebrates Graham’s extraordinary lifetime of public service, his commitment to civic leadership and his enduring legacy through the Bob Graham Center for Public Service, housed within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Florida.
“This award honors Senator Graham’s extraordinary service to Florida and the nation, but it also points to the future,” said the center’s Interim Director Marianne Vernetson. “His vision was not only to lead in his own time but to educate and empower young people to lead in theirs. That is the mission of the Bob Graham Center — to equip students with the knowledge and skills to strengthen our democracy and improve the communities they serve.”
