Former Florida Secretary of State George Firestone dies-
George Firestone, who as secretary of state from 1979-1987 launched Florida into the world of foreign trade by pushing for Free Trade zones, died Friday in a Hollywood assisted living facility. He was 80 and had been battling Alzheimer's disease.
Firestone, a self-taught businessman and well-known Florida politician whose political career spanned three decades, is also credited with helping young politicians run for office.
"When I first ran for mayor he told me the No. 1 thing is to be honest," said Scott Maddox, who served as Tallahassee's mayor for 10 years. "He was honest his entire career."
Firestone, who as a Democrat served as a state representative from Dade County from 1966-72 and a state senator from 1972-78, will also be remembered for being an advocate for Florida, House Democratic Leader Ron Saunders said in a statement Friday.
"Having served in the Florida House of Representatives and Florida Senate, George represented well the citizens in Dade and Monroe counties," Saunders wrote. "He also will be remembered as a reform-minded Florida secretary of state who helped to promote the arts and culture of our state."
Born in New York in 1931, Firestone moved to Miami as a boy with his parents in 1936. The son of a waitress, Firestone used to go with his mom to the restaurant and always dreamed of opening his own business, said family and friends.
He served in the U.S. Army — at one time he was a chef — and was honorably discharged in 1952.
After leaving the army, he immediately returned to Miami and began opening up his own businesses, including a security firm, said Nola Firestone, his wife since 1980.
"He was really a self-taught man, who worked for everything he had," she said.
In 1966, Firestone — who was the type to take on the fight for something he believed in — launched his first campaign to represent Coconut Grove in the state House. He decided to run in order to fight anti-business legislation. He and best friend Charlie Maddox — Scott's father — put huge signs in cars and on lawns. "The whole thing was very grassroots," said Scott Maddox.
Once in office, Firestone, who never went to college, began pushing for more foreign involvement through trade and banking and a bigger budget for the arts.
Firestone quickly got the reputation for being fearless and standing up for what he believed, said former Gov. Reubin Askew.
"He was a fearless, courageous guy who followed important issues and was one of the most respected legislators in Tallahassee," said Askew. "He encouraged international trade in Florida."
Bruce Smathers, who preceded Firestone as secretary of state, called Firestone a great "humanitarian."
"He stood up for everyone," said Smathers.
As secretary of state, Firestone was in charge of local and state elections, keeping campaign finance records and personal financial reports of public officials, overseeing the state's cultural affairs, archives, and grants to arts groups.
During his tenure, Firestone helped update the Florida seal, originally created in 1868, to include the sabal palm as the state's tree.
He also did a lot of traveling, visiting foreign countries to help boost trade.
In 1986, Firestone, chose not to run for another term following rumors he was frustrated by the politics going on in Tallahassee.
He went on to work for the investment company Smith Barney, then opened up Tecton, a Hospitality Management Company, said his wife.
Firestone also continued to consult in foreign countries, said business partner Tom Patrick. He frequently took trips to Australia and Russia, but his favorite was China.
In addition to his wife, Firestone is survived by step daughter Marni Becker-Avin.
Memorial services will be held at Nova Southeastern University, where Firestone received an honorary doctorate degree, at 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Firestone's memory to the National MS Society, 3201 W. Commercial Blvd., Suite 127, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33309, or to the Alzheimer's Association, 3333 Forest Hill Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL 33406.
"We lost a great Floridian,'' said Maddox. "They just don't make them like him any more.''
George Firestone, who as secretary of state from 1979-1987 launched Florida into the world of foreign trade by pushing for Free Trade zones, died Friday in a Hollywood assisted living facility. He was 80 and had been battling Alzheimer's disease.
Firestone, a self-taught businessman and well-known Florida politician whose political career spanned three decades, is also credited with helping young politicians run for office.
"When I first ran for mayor he told me the No. 1 thing is to be honest," said Scott Maddox, who served as Tallahassee's mayor for 10 years. "He was honest his entire career."
Firestone, who as a Democrat served as a state representative from Dade County from 1966-72 and a state senator from 1972-78, will also be remembered for being an advocate for Florida, House Democratic Leader Ron Saunders said in a statement Friday.
"Having served in the Florida House of Representatives and Florida Senate, George represented well the citizens in Dade and Monroe counties," Saunders wrote. "He also will be remembered as a reform-minded Florida secretary of state who helped to promote the arts and culture of our state."
Born in New York in 1931, Firestone moved to Miami as a boy with his parents in 1936. The son of a waitress, Firestone used to go with his mom to the restaurant and always dreamed of opening his own business, said family and friends.
He served in the U.S. Army — at one time he was a chef — and was honorably discharged in 1952.
After leaving the army, he immediately returned to Miami and began opening up his own businesses, including a security firm, said Nola Firestone, his wife since 1980.
"He was really a self-taught man, who worked for everything he had," she said.
In 1966, Firestone — who was the type to take on the fight for something he believed in — launched his first campaign to represent Coconut Grove in the state House. He decided to run in order to fight anti-business legislation. He and best friend Charlie Maddox — Scott's father — put huge signs in cars and on lawns. "The whole thing was very grassroots," said Scott Maddox.
Once in office, Firestone, who never went to college, began pushing for more foreign involvement through trade and banking and a bigger budget for the arts.
Firestone quickly got the reputation for being fearless and standing up for what he believed, said former Gov. Reubin Askew.
"He was a fearless, courageous guy who followed important issues and was one of the most respected legislators in Tallahassee," said Askew. "He encouraged international trade in Florida."
Bruce Smathers, who preceded Firestone as secretary of state, called Firestone a great "humanitarian."
"He stood up for everyone," said Smathers.
As secretary of state, Firestone was in charge of local and state elections, keeping campaign finance records and personal financial reports of public officials, overseeing the state's cultural affairs, archives, and grants to arts groups.
During his tenure, Firestone helped update the Florida seal, originally created in 1868, to include the sabal palm as the state's tree.
He also did a lot of traveling, visiting foreign countries to help boost trade.
In 1986, Firestone, chose not to run for another term following rumors he was frustrated by the politics going on in Tallahassee.
He went on to work for the investment company Smith Barney, then opened up Tecton, a Hospitality Management Company, said his wife.
Firestone also continued to consult in foreign countries, said business partner Tom Patrick. He frequently took trips to Australia and Russia, but his favorite was China.
In addition to his wife, Firestone is survived by step daughter Marni Becker-Avin.
Memorial services will be held at Nova Southeastern University, where Firestone received an honorary doctorate degree, at 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Firestone's memory to the National MS Society, 3201 W. Commercial Blvd., Suite 127, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33309, or to the Alzheimer's Association, 3333 Forest Hill Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL 33406.
"We lost a great Floridian,'' said Maddox. "They just don't make them like him any more.''
Former Florida Secretary of State George Firestone dies-
George Firestone, who as secretary of state from 1979-1987 launched Florida into the world of foreign trade by pushing for Free Trade zones, died Friday in a Hollywood assisted living facility. He was 80 and had been battling Alzheimer's disease.
Firestone, a self-taught businessman and well-known Florida politician whose political career spanned three decades, is also credited with helping young politicians run for office.
"When I first ran for mayor he told me the No. 1 thing is to be honest," said Scott Maddox, who served as Tallahassee's mayor for 10 years. "He was honest his entire career."
Firestone, who as a Democrat served as a state representative from Dade County from 1966-72 and a state senator from 1972-78, will also be remembered for being an advocate for Florida, House Democratic Leader Ron Saunders said in a statement Friday.
"Having served in the Florida House of Representatives and Florida Senate, George represented well the citizens in Dade and Monroe counties," Saunders wrote. "He also will be remembered as a reform-minded Florida secretary of state who helped to promote the arts and culture of our state."
Born in New York in 1931, Firestone moved to Miami as a boy with his parents in 1936. The son of a waitress, Firestone used to go with his mom to the restaurant and always dreamed of opening his own business, said family and friends.
He served in the U.S. Army — at one time he was a chef — and was honorably discharged in 1952.
After leaving the army, he immediately returned to Miami and began opening up his own businesses, including a security firm, said Nola Firestone, his wife since 1980.
"He was really a self-taught man, who worked for everything he had," she said.
In 1966, Firestone — who was the type to take on the fight for something he believed in — launched his first campaign to represent Coconut Grove in the state House. He decided to run in order to fight anti-business legislation. He and best friend Charlie Maddox — Scott's father — put huge signs in cars and on lawns. "The whole thing was very grassroots," said Scott Maddox.
Once in office, Firestone, who never went to college, began pushing for more foreign involvement through trade and banking and a bigger budget for the arts.
Firestone quickly got the reputation for being fearless and standing up for what he believed, said former Gov. Reubin Askew.
"He was a fearless, courageous guy who followed important issues and was one of the most respected legislators in Tallahassee," said Askew. "He encouraged international trade in Florida."
Bruce Smathers, who preceded Firestone as secretary of state, called Firestone a great "humanitarian."
"He stood up for everyone," said Smathers.
As secretary of state, Firestone was in charge of local and state elections, keeping campaign finance records and personal financial reports of public officials, overseeing the state's cultural affairs, archives, and grants to arts groups.
During his tenure, Firestone helped update the Florida seal, originally created in 1868, to include the sabal palm as the state's tree.
He also did a lot of traveling, visiting foreign countries to help boost trade.
In 1986, Firestone, chose not to run for another term following rumors he was frustrated by the politics going on in Tallahassee.
He went on to work for the investment company Smith Barney, then opened up Tecton, a Hospitality Management Company, said his wife.
Firestone also continued to consult in foreign countries, said business partner Tom Patrick. He frequently took trips to Australia and Russia, but his favorite was China.
In addition to his wife, Firestone is survived by step daughter Marni Becker-Avin.
Memorial services will be held at Nova Southeastern University, where Firestone received an honorary doctorate degree, at 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Firestone's memory to the National MS Society, 3201 W. Commercial Blvd., Suite 127, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33309, or to the Alzheimer's Association, 3333 Forest Hill Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL 33406.
"We lost a great Floridian,'' said Maddox. "They just don't make them like him any more.''
George Firestone, who as secretary of state from 1979-1987 launched Florida into the world of foreign trade by pushing for Free Trade zones, died Friday in a Hollywood assisted living facility. He was 80 and had been battling Alzheimer's disease.
Firestone, a self-taught businessman and well-known Florida politician whose political career spanned three decades, is also credited with helping young politicians run for office.
"When I first ran for mayor he told me the No. 1 thing is to be honest," said Scott Maddox, who served as Tallahassee's mayor for 10 years. "He was honest his entire career."
Firestone, who as a Democrat served as a state representative from Dade County from 1966-72 and a state senator from 1972-78, will also be remembered for being an advocate for Florida, House Democratic Leader Ron Saunders said in a statement Friday.
"Having served in the Florida House of Representatives and Florida Senate, George represented well the citizens in Dade and Monroe counties," Saunders wrote. "He also will be remembered as a reform-minded Florida secretary of state who helped to promote the arts and culture of our state."
Born in New York in 1931, Firestone moved to Miami as a boy with his parents in 1936. The son of a waitress, Firestone used to go with his mom to the restaurant and always dreamed of opening his own business, said family and friends.
He served in the U.S. Army — at one time he was a chef — and was honorably discharged in 1952.
After leaving the army, he immediately returned to Miami and began opening up his own businesses, including a security firm, said Nola Firestone, his wife since 1980.
"He was really a self-taught man, who worked for everything he had," she said.
In 1966, Firestone — who was the type to take on the fight for something he believed in — launched his first campaign to represent Coconut Grove in the state House. He decided to run in order to fight anti-business legislation. He and best friend Charlie Maddox — Scott's father — put huge signs in cars and on lawns. "The whole thing was very grassroots," said Scott Maddox.
Once in office, Firestone, who never went to college, began pushing for more foreign involvement through trade and banking and a bigger budget for the arts.
Firestone quickly got the reputation for being fearless and standing up for what he believed, said former Gov. Reubin Askew.
"He was a fearless, courageous guy who followed important issues and was one of the most respected legislators in Tallahassee," said Askew. "He encouraged international trade in Florida."
Bruce Smathers, who preceded Firestone as secretary of state, called Firestone a great "humanitarian."
"He stood up for everyone," said Smathers.
As secretary of state, Firestone was in charge of local and state elections, keeping campaign finance records and personal financial reports of public officials, overseeing the state's cultural affairs, archives, and grants to arts groups.
During his tenure, Firestone helped update the Florida seal, originally created in 1868, to include the sabal palm as the state's tree.
He also did a lot of traveling, visiting foreign countries to help boost trade.
In 1986, Firestone, chose not to run for another term following rumors he was frustrated by the politics going on in Tallahassee.
He went on to work for the investment company Smith Barney, then opened up Tecton, a Hospitality Management Company, said his wife.
Firestone also continued to consult in foreign countries, said business partner Tom Patrick. He frequently took trips to Australia and Russia, but his favorite was China.
In addition to his wife, Firestone is survived by step daughter Marni Becker-Avin.
Memorial services will be held at Nova Southeastern University, where Firestone received an honorary doctorate degree, at 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Firestone's memory to the National MS Society, 3201 W. Commercial Blvd., Suite 127, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33309, or to the Alzheimer's Association, 3333 Forest Hill Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL 33406.
"We lost a great Floridian,'' said Maddox. "They just don't make them like him any more.''
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