A bridge in his honor

Monday, November 21, 2005

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Bob Graham served as governor of Florida from 1979-87.

The Sunshine Skyway Bridge has a new name.

The Florida Legislature renamed it the Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge on Monday in honor of Florida's former governor. Graham spearheaded the drive to build a new, spectacular span after a cargo ship crashed into the old bridge in 1980, causing 1,200 feet of the bridge to collapse, and sending 35 people to their deaths.

"It was a very, very sad day for Florida," said Graham, who was governor when the tragedy happened.

Graham says there was a strong push to repair the bridge after the accident, but he felt the incident proved the bridge wasn't safe, and a taller, stronger bridge should be built. Therefore, he worked to secure funding, and in 1982, construction began on the picturesque bridge.

The state-of-the-art design should keep a tragedy like this from happening again.

The bridge collapsed in 1980.

"I hope those who gave their lives feel they did not do so in vain," said Graham. "That the new bridge is in part a memorial for them."

Monday's ceremony was at the North Skyway Park rest area just south of the Pinellas toll booth.

There's also a school in Miami-Dade County and a beach in Stuart named after Graham.