Doug Jamerson
Encyclopedia
Douglas Lee "Tim" Jamerson, Jr. (d. April 21, 2001) was a former 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
.
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. 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.
Betty Castor
Betty Castor , neeElizabeth Bowe, is an American educator and former politician and elected officeholder. Castor was elected to the Florida Senate and the Florida Education Commissioner, and she later served as the President of the University of South Florida, and President of the National Board...
resigned to become President of the University of South Florida
University of South Florida
The University of South Florida, also known as USF, is a member institution of the State University System of Florida, one of the state's three flagship universities for public research, and is located in Tampa, Florida, USA...
. He was defeated in his bid for a full term in 1994 by Frank Brogan
Frank Brogan
Frank T. Brogan is the current Chancellor of the State University System of Florida and the former President of Florida Atlantic University. He was also the 15th Lieutenant Governor of Florida...
.
Jamerson grew up in the poor neighborhoods in St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
. He planned to attend Gibbs High School, but his grandmother encouraged him to go to Bishop Barry High School
St. Petersburg Catholic High School
St. Petersburg Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in St. Petersburg, Florida. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Petersburg.-Background:Mission Statement...
(now St. Petersburg Catholic High School) instead, where he was the school's first black student. Jamerson graduated from St. Petersburg Junior College
St. Petersburg College
St. Petersburg College is a fully accredited post-secondary educational institution located in St. Petersburg, Florida, serving some 65,000 students annually...
and received his bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in criminal justice
Criminal justice
Criminal Justice is the system of practices and institutions of governments directed at upholding social control, deterring and mitigating crime, or sanctioning those who violate laws with criminal penalties and rehabilitation efforts...
from the University of South Florida
University of South Florida
The University of South Florida, also known as USF, is a member institution of the State University System of Florida, one of the state's three flagship universities for public research, and is located in Tampa, Florida, USA...
. He also was a graduate of St. Petersburg Police Academy.
Jamerson was elected to the Florida House of Representatives
Florida House of Representatives
The Florida House of Representatives is the lower house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The House is composed of 120 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 156,677.The House convenes at...
in 1982 from District 55 representative and served 5.5 terms Governor Lawton Chiles
Lawton Chiles
Lawton Mainor Chiles, Jr. was an American politician from the US state of Florida. In a career spanning four decades, Chiles, a Democrat who never lost an election, served in the Florida House of Representatives , the Florida State Senate , the United States Senate , and as the 41st Governor of...
appointed him state education commissioner in 1993, but he lost the seat to Frank Brogan
Frank Brogan
Frank T. Brogan is the current Chancellor of the State University System of Florida and the former President of Florida Atlantic University. He was also the 15th Lieutenant Governor of Florida...
in the 1994 election, in which Republicans
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
made substantial gains. After his loss Chiles appointed him as secretary of the state Department of Labor.
Jamerson died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
at the Tallahassee Memorial Hospital in 2001, at the age of 53.