James E. King
Encyclopedia
James E. "Jim" King was an American businessman and politician. A Republican
, he was a member of Florida House of Representatives
from 1986 through 1999, and subsequently represented the 8th District of the Florida Senate
from 1999 until his death. He served as President of the Florida Senate from 2002 to 2004 and served as the Majority Leader of from 2000 to 2002.
where he earned Bachelors and Masters degrees. He married the former Linda Braddock. He has a daughter, Laurie Anne, from his first marriage to Eileen and a daughter, Monta Michelle, from his second marriage to Dorothy King. King had a rocky start in business, nearly going bankrupt twice before he mortgaged his home in 1969 to start an employment service agency, which was successful. In 1997, he sold the company for $15 million and focused on his political career, which began in 1986.
in 1986. He was elected to the Florida Senate in 1999.
In 2006, he was opposed in the Republican primary election
by Randall Terry
, a prominent pro-life
activist who had opposed him on the Schiavo matter.
, but the following month, announced that he was cancer-free. In mid-July, his family announced that the disease had spread and he entered a hospice
program. Jim King died on Sunday, July 26, 2009.
At the dedication ceremony then university president T. K. Wetherall had this to say about Senator King:
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...
, he was a member of 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...
from 1986 through 1999, and subsequently represented the 8th District of the Florida Senate
Florida Senate
The Florida Senate is the upper house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Senate is composed of 40 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 470,032....
from 1999 until his death. He served as President of the Florida Senate from 2002 to 2004 and served as the Majority Leader of from 2000 to 2002.
Early years
King was born in Brooklyn, New York, and moved with his family to Florida in 1945, where he became the first member of his family to graduate high school He attended Florida State UniversityFlorida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
where he earned Bachelors and Masters degrees. He married the former Linda Braddock. He has a daughter, Laurie Anne, from his first marriage to Eileen and a daughter, Monta Michelle, from his second marriage to Dorothy King. King had a rocky start in business, nearly going bankrupt twice before he mortgaged his home in 1969 to start an employment service agency, which was successful. In 1997, he sold the company for $15 million and focused on his political career, which began in 1986.
Politics
King was elected to the Florida House of RepresentativesFlorida 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 1986. He was elected to the Florida Senate in 1999.
In 2006, he was opposed in the Republican primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
by Randall Terry
Randall Terry
Randall Almira Terry is an American pro-life activist and candidate for the Democratic Party's nomination for President in 2012. Terry founded the pro-life organization Operation Rescue. The group became particularly prominent beginning in 1987 for blockading the entrances to abortion clinics;...
, a prominent pro-life
Pro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
activist who had opposed him on the Schiavo matter.
Death
In May 2009, King was diagnosed with pancreatic cancerPancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a...
, but the following month, announced that he was cancer-free. In mid-July, his family announced that the disease had spread and he entered a hospice
Hospice
Hospice is a type of care and a philosophy of care which focuses on the palliation of a terminally ill patient's symptoms.In the United States and Canada:*Gentiva Health Services, national provider of hospice and home health services...
program. Jim King died on Sunday, July 26, 2009.
Education
- Florida State University, B.A., 1961, B.S., 1961, M.B.A., 1962
- St. Petersburg Junior College, A.A., 1959
Legacy
In 2008 The James E. King Life Sciences Building was opened on the Florida State University campus.At the dedication ceremony then university president T. K. Wetherall had this to say about Senator King:
External links
- Project Vote Smart - Senator James E. 'Jim' King Jr. (FL) profile
- Follow the Money - James E King Jr
- City of Jacksonville - Senator King biography