Shutts & Bowen is a sponsor of the Florida Women's Hall of Fame induction ceremony being held in the Capitol Courtyard, Tallahassee, on Tuesday, March 6, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. This event honors women, who, through their contributions and experiences have made significant impact not only upon the lives of women but all Floridians. The Florida Commission on the Status of Women and Governor Rick Scott have announced that Dr. Ruth Alexander, Elizabeth “Budd” Bell, and Vicki Bryant Burke are being honored this year.
Dr. Ruth H. Alexander is a pioneer in the field of women’s sports. In 1972, she established the “Lady Gator Athletic” program at the University of Florida. Dr. Alexander was the first woman appointed to the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports by President Nixon, and then reappointed by Presidents Ford, Carter and Reagan. She is a founding member of the Florida Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and was appointed/reappointed to the Council by four different Governors.
Elizabeth “Budd” Bell was an advocate of children and women, the elderly, the mentally ill, and the disadvantaged. She pioneered coordinated childcare legislation in Florida, and helped pass the Child Care Bill, which secured the funding of early learning programs across the state. She worked to craft the landmark legislation known as the Baker Act, which protects the rights of persons with mental illness in Florida. She founded the Clearinghouse on Human Services, a statewide advocacy coalition that includes over 100 organizations.
Vicki Bryant Burke began working as a counselor with adolescent males and females in a juvenile justice day treatment program. Through her work, she learned institutionalization or incarceration was often the response to addressing the needs of girls who committed delinquent acts and/or status offenses. As a result, she founded PACE Center for Girls, the first and only non-residential program for troubled adolescent females in Florida. PACE remains the only statewide prevention and early intervention agency in the nation focused on girls and young women.
Speakers at the induction ceremony include Governor Rick Scott, Florida Commission on the Status of Women Chair, Susanne Hebert, and Shutts & Bowen Partner, Harvey E. Oyer. Mr. Oyer is a member of the firm’s Real Estate Department and Land Use Practice Group. He is also an accomplished historian, lecturer and writer.
The Florida Commission on the Status of Women is a nonpartisan board of 22 appointed members who study and make recommendations to the Governor, Cabinet and Legislature on issues affecting women.
Shutts & Bowen, a Florida-based firm with 225 attorneys strategically located in six offices throughout the state of Florida, represents individuals and business entities nationally and internationally.