Name George Firestone Role Political figure | Died March 2, 2012 Party Democratic Party | |
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George Firestone (May 13, 1931 – March 2, 2012) was an American politician from the U.S. state of Florida. He was a Democrat. He served as the 20th Florida Secretary of State from 1979 to 1987.
Firestone was born in New York City in 1931. He moved to Miami, Florida with his family as a child in 1936. Firestone served in the United States Army and was honorably discharged in 1952. He became a Miami business leader and served in many civic organizations.
Firestone was elected to the Florida House of Representatives from Dade and Monroe counties in 1966. He was elected to the Florida Senate in 1972, where he would serve until 1978. He was elected Secretary of State of Florida in 1978 and was reelected twice, serving until he resigned in 1987.
He used the Secretary of State's position as chief cultural officer to promoted the arts, and during his term support for the arts increased more than 3,200 percent. He also helped update the Florida seal to include the sabal palm. During his tenure, he also traveled a great deal to promote foreign investment in Florida, and was a supporter for Free Trade Zones in the state.
Later in life, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. On March 2, 2012, he died in a Hollywood, Florida assisted living facility at the age of 80.