Mary R. Grizzle (née Pearson; August 19, 1921 – November 9, 2006), was a legislator and advocate of the Equal Rights Amendment, who served in both houses of the Florida state legislature.[1] She was the first female Republican to serve in the Florida legislature.

Mary R. Grizzle
Member of the Florida Senate
from the 20th district
In office
1978–1992
Preceded byHenry Sayler
Succeeded byCharlie Crist
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 47th district
In office
1967–1972
Preceded byDistrict created
Succeeded byBill Nelson
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the Pinellas County district
In office
1962–1967
Preceded byMulti-member district
Succeeded byDistrict abolished
Personal details
Born(1921-08-19)August 19, 1921
Ironton, Ohio, U.S.
DiedNovember 9, 2006(2006-11-09) (aged 85)
Redington Beach, Florida, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseBen Grizzle
Children6

Early life

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She grew up near Ironton, Ohio, where she was born. Grizzle went to business college in Portsmouth, Ohio. She worked for an insurance business. After World War II started, she moved to Washington, D.C., and worked for the War Production Board. She met Ben Grizzle and they got married. They moved to Florida in 1949. Grizzle was involved with the PTA and with the Republican Party. She served as town commissioner for Belleair, Florida.[2][3]

Career

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In 1963, she was elected to the Florida House of Representatives. From 1974 to 1978 she served as House Republican Leader Pro-Tempore, making her the first woman in Florida elected to a leadership position. In 1978, she was elected to the Florida Senate.[4]

She introduced and passed the Married Women Property Rights Act, which became law in 1970, giving married women in Florida, for the first time, the right to own property solely in their names and to transfer that property without their husbands' signatures.[4] She also sponsored legislation admitting women to jury duty, providing equal pay for equal work, providing maternity leave for teachers, and requiring state licensing for child care centers.[2] In 1972, she co-sponsored a bill that set strict standards on sewage dumped into Tampa Bay.[2]

Legacy

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In 1990, the Florida Senate passed a resolution naming her "Dean of the Legislature" because she had the longest continuous term of service there. She stayed in the Senate until 1992.[4] In 2003, she was inducted into the Florida Women's Hall of Fame.[2]

Grizzle died on November 9, 2006, in Redington Beach, aged 85.[3]

The Mary Grizzle Building, a business center, is located in Largo, Florida.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Basse, Craig (November 9, 2006). "Pioneering politician Mary Grizzle dies". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d "She fought for environment, women's rights" by CRAIG BASSE AND WILL VAN SANT, published November 10, 2006
  3. ^ a b "State: Pioneering politician Mary Grizzle dies". Archive.org. March 1, 2011. Archived from the original on March 1, 2011. Retrieved April 7, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. ^ a b c "Mary Grizzle". Archive.org. December 5, 2003. Archived from the original on December 5, 2003. Retrieved April 7, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  5. ^ "Mary Grizzle Building | Things to do in Tampa Bay". TampaBay.com. August 25, 2015. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
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Florida House of Representatives
Preceded by
Multi-member district
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the Pinellas County district

1962–1967
Succeeded by
District abolished
Preceded by
District created
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 47th district

1967–1972
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 53rd district

1972–1978
Succeeded by
Peter M. Dunbar
Florida Senate
Preceded by Member of the Florida Senate
from the 20th district

1978–1992
Succeeded by