Doug Jamerson

Douglas Lee "Tim" Jamerson, Jr. (October 16, 1947 – April 21, 2001) was a Florida Commissioner of Education. He was appointed to the position in 1993 after former Betty Castor resigned to become President of the University of South Florida. He was defeated in his bid for a full term in 1994 by Frank Brogan.

Doug Jamerson
Education Commissioner of Florida
In office January 3, 1994 – January 3, 1995
Governor	Lawton Chiles
Preceded by	Betty Castor
Succeeded by	Frank Brogan
Personal details
Born	(1947-10-16)October 16, 1947 St. Petersburg, Florida
Died	April 21, 2001(2001-04-21) (aged 53) Tallahassee, Florida
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Leatha
Children	Cedric
Education	St. Petersburg Junior College University of South Florida

Jamerson grew up in the poor neighborhoods in St. Petersburg, Florida. He planned to attend Gibbs High School, but his grandmother encouraged him to go to Bishop Barry High School (now St. Petersburg Catholic High School) instead, where he was the school's first black student. Jamerson graduated from St. Petersburg Junior College and received his bachelor's degree in criminal justice from the University of South Florida. He also was a graduate of St. Petersburg Police Academy.

Jamerson was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 1982 from District 55 representative and served 5.5 terms Governor Lawton Chiles appointed him state education commissioner in 1993, but he lost the seat to Frank Brogan in the 1994 election, in which Republicans made substantial gains; had Jamerson won, he would have been the first black elected to statewide office since 1868.[1] After his loss, Chiles appointed him as secretary of the state Department of Labor.

Jamerson died of cancer at the Tallahassee Memorial Hospital in 2001, at the age of 53.[2]

Preceded by Betty Castor	Florida Commissioner of Education 1993 – 1995	Succeeded by Frank Brogan

References

1. The Orlando Sentinel retrieved 2012-09-01
2. sptimes.com retrieved 6 June 2010