Readers share their Bob Graham memories and moments

After Bob Graham's death Tuesday at 87, readers from Florida and beyond wrote in to share thoughts and memories of the late governor and U.S. senator.

"One of the good guys. They don’t make ‘em like that anymore," one wrote.

▶Do you have memories, moments or photos you want to share about the life of former Gov. Bob Graham? Email us at news@tallahassee.com. Please include your full name, title and city of residence.

Here's a sampling of other messages:

A retired judge remember the 'unwavering honesty and integrity'

Jack H. Cook, a retired Circuit Judge in north Palm Beach, was appointed to the bench by Graham.

"I'll be short because I did not know Senator Graham well. I will be forever grateful. It was a wonderful job that I did for 30 years without ever facing opposition," Cook wrote. "Of course I followed his career thereafter and was never disappointed in his unwavering honesty and integrity and his never-ending quest to do what was right for the citizens of Florida and of the United States. He was a great man."

A love story for the ages

Jon L. Shebel, a resident of St. George and a former President & CEO of Associated Industries of Florida, Inc. and affiliated companies, said you could disagree with his positions, "but everyone agreed he was a good man."

"The real untold story about Graham was the true love story between Bob and Adele! I had the opportunity to view this a number of times up close and personal and it gave all who observed it a very warm feeling! What America badly needs today are more Bob Grahams. I was on the same side and opposite side of the governor/senator on issues many times over the years, but there was never a time that I did not receive a friendly and cordial greeting from him whenever we were in the same space and he always treated me as a friend ... and of course, Adele would have scolded him if he hadn’t!"

'A true statesman'

Anna B. Gray of Tallahassee wrote: "I was in Sen. Graham’s first “work day,” which was a full semester class at my high school (Miami Carol City), where he taught comparative politics.

"As a college student, I volunteered for his gubernatorial campaign, and ended up marrying Mixson’s campaign aide. The last time I saw him was at my 40th high school reunion. He was always a very down to earth kind of person and a champion of educators and quality education. He was also a true statesman."

'A champion of the 9/11 community'

Terry Strada, National Chair of 9/11 Families United, worked with Graham on declassifying 28 pages of Congress' "Joint Inquiry" into the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the United States, which he co-chaired. The material would elucidate alleged Saudi support for anti-American terrorism, supporters say.

Graham "was a champion of the 9/11 community," Strada wrote. "I spoke alongside him at press conferences in Washington, D.C., and had the honor of introducing him at an event for 9/11 transparency in Naples.

"He shared his personal cell phone with me so we could keep in touch regarding news on the 28 pages. We did news interviews together and I treasure his dedication and friendship."

Helping to release a political prisoner in Cuba

John Pullen of Havana recalled Graham's efforts to get his father-in-law Jose Pujals Mederos released from being a political prisoner in Cuba.

"In December 1986, Gerald Lewis (then the state comptroller) sponsored a Cabinet resolution supporting that effort ... I remember walking up to shake hands with the cabinet members and then-Gov. Graham (said), 'When I get to Washington, I’ll help you,' " Pullen wrote.

"For the prior 25 years, members of Congress had been useless when we asked for help," he added. But the new Sen. Graham went to work, making phone calls and connections with those who could help, including Ted Kennedy and Texas congressman Mickey Leland, who knew Fidel Castro. Eventually, Pullen's father-in-law was freed after 27 years and settled in Tallahassee, he said.

"That night, Jose received a call from Sen. Graham welcoming him to freedom. Did Bob Graham directly get Jose released? No, but he gave us hope and hope is a beautiful thing. We have always fondly remembered Bob Graham for all he did for us in helping to reunite a family separated for too many years."

A 'strong advocate for children'

Ellen Serfaty, writing from Israel, called Graham "one of the strongest advocates for children" and "my most inspiring boss, I learned so much from him." In 1984, Graham appointed her executive director of the Governor’s Constituency for Children, a statewide grass roots advocacy group to lobby on behalf of children.

"He led hearings around the state on what children and families needed, and created a child care and protection packages including legislation, funding and pilot programs — including a model government employee day care center," she wrote. "I still have (a) 45-page memo he sent me with assignments for legislation and initiatives in behalf of children."

Graham, chasing the 'fat squirrels'

Stan Zimmerman, a retired journalist and author now living in Sarasota, said he covered Graham when he was governor.

"I moved to Washington in 1987 to join my new bride, an educator at the Smithsonian. Our son was born in 1989, and he was enrolled in the Smithsonian’s first daycare center. ... One fine Spring day on “the Hill,” I saw Sen. Bob Graham. ... He beamed at our son who reflected it back," he wrote.

"As the summer progressed, our son was old enough to chase the squirrels. He convinced a U.S. senator to help him. A fine sight: a sitting senator helping a toddler chase the fat squirrels of Capitol Hill."

Bob Graham, 'warm and gracious'

Daniel Banks, a Presbyterian elder in Ocala, wrote that in 1986, then-Gov. Graham "awarded my grandfather, Edward Daniel Davis, Sr., with the Most Distinguished Black Floridian Award, at an MLK Day observance, in St. Augustine."

He is "now enshrined in the Florida Civil Rights Hall of Fame at the Capitol Rotunda in Tallahassee. ... Graham was always warm and gracious. May he rest in power."

Graham's notebooks inspired others

Kenda Woodburn of Tallahassee wrote that her father, the late Kenneth D. Woodburn, an environmental advisor and speech writer for Graham, created along with his wife Bonnie "a lovely hand-drawn book" chronicling his many work days.

"My dad also had a little notebook," she wrote. "I am so glad you mentioned that Graham had one. These notebooks were very valuable in their work together. My Dad would brief Graham on environmental issues and he thoroughly enjoyed working under" him.

Moreover, "when an Iranian musician friend of ours, the guitar virtuoso Lily Afshar, was later stuck in Iran during a political crisis, Sen. Graham was instrumental in helping secure her release and return to the U.S."

Political memorabilia of a 'decent man in an often indecent profession'

Ed Kellerman, a master lecturer and Fulbright Scholar at the University of Florida, met Graham 15 years ago at the Florida Book Awards, where Graham pledged him to a life of service. Kellerman, who also runs the National Museum of Political Memorabilia (www.nmpm.net), also noted that Adele donated badges, name tags and pins for the museum, which has a "Graham Corner."

"Bob was the most decent man in an often indecent profession," he wrote.

Graham, the environment, and a 'fresh cup of coffee'

H. Hugh Boyter Jr., a retired biological scientist, wrote that, among other things, he managed a section in the old Game and Freshwater Fish Commission, now the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, that prepared plans for state wildlife conservation lands.

One time, "I stepped into the elevator with Gov. Graham, who in our short ride to the Cabinet meeting room learned my name, occupation, and which plan I was there to discuss. ... He used one of his spiral pocket notebooks to write something down," Boyter wrote.

"Gov. Graham thought, as I do, that Florida's conservation land acquisition programs are among the most historically important and smartest things that this state has done to preserve our unique identity as a globally significant biodiversity hotspot.

"... He could work through a rotating stack of documents provided by his assistant, along with a fresh cup of coffee, but do so without losing track of what was going on with the conservation land management plans. He knew the players with The Nature Conservancy, Audubon, Sierra Club and other conservationists (and) he later even remembered me from our brief encounter.

"In today's divisive political environment remembering Bob Graham's leadership is a breath of fresh air!"

'Gentlemanly, soft spoken'

Ernie Bach of Largo, state chairman of the Independent Party of Florida, called Graham "gentlemanly, soft spoken, deeply interested and always writing in his little pocket notebooks which I believe included me and my comments some 3-4 times over the years we met."

Graham "did in fact listen to people, and used his notes to govern for those same constituents and the State of Florida as he accomplished his mandates using common sense, intelligence and a bipartisan outreach and work ethic that is such a distant memory in today's politics.

"As one of my old friends Walt Dartland said of him, and to which I readily agree, he was one of the best that has graced our state and a politician of the type we have seen too little of in the recent couple of decades and sadly may not see again for some time to come," Bach wrote.

Graham's advice to a new lawmaker: 'Pick out only two issues'

Bob McKnight, a former Florida senator (1978-82) and representative (1974-78) who served with then State Sen. Bob Graham in the Dade Legislative Delegation, recalls a 1975 Southern Airlines flight from Tallahassee to Miami in which he sat next to Graham.

"I asked him what advice he had for me to become an effective legislator. He said, 'Bob unless you are of a Marshall Harris intellect, just pick out only two issues to deeply involve yourself.  Don't get pulled into others, no matter the temptation. But when anything comes up about those two issues, command a seat at the table. Make sure sponsors of those two issues know that nothing will happen to them without your approval.'

"He was so right.  My two issues were health care and water management. Thank you Governor and may you rest in peace."

'Governor Bob': A true Tallahasseean

Jeff Caster, a Leon County resident, called him "Governor Bob."

"When he was our governor,  he and his family were real Tallahasseeans, experiencing their everyday lives with the rest of us," he wrote. "We knew they liked living here. We knew they liked us. We liked them too, and still do."

Making the bed

Nancy Simmons of Winter Haven penned a short note to say Graham "spent the night at our house before one of his work days in Lakeland" in 1979. "What I remember most is that he made his bed the next morning."

James L. Rosica is news director of the Tallahassee Democrat. Reach him at jrosica@tallahassee.com and follow him on Twitter/X: @JimRosicaFL.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Readers share their Bob Graham memories and moments