23 Facts About Sam Gibbons

Samuel Melville Gibbons was an American politician from the state of Florida, who served in the Florida State House of Representatives, Florida State Senate, and the US House of Representatives.

Sam Gibbons represented the city of Tampa in Congress for over 30 years.

Sam Gibbons went to Roosevelt Elementary School when he was a young child.

Sam Gibbons graduated from H B Plant High School, where he was part of JROTC, and then went on to the University of Florida.

Sam Gibbons then joined four generations of his family practicing law in Tampa.

Sam Gibbons went on to marry Martha Hanley, and have three sons; Clifford Sam, Mark Hanley, and Timothy Melville.

Sam Gibbons attained the rank of captain in the 101st Airborne before entering combat in June 1944.

Sam Gibbons could count a dozen burning tanks from his view of the battlefield.

Sam Gibbons was later awarded the Bronze Star for his actions in Normandy.

Sam Gibbons served in the European campaign until the end of the war.

Sam Gibbons was promoted to major; however, a communications delay prevented Sam Gibbons from learning of his promotion until after he had been honorably discharged.

Sam Gibbons was awarded the French Medal of Valor in 2004 at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial during the 60th anniversary of D-day.

Sam Gibbons was a member of the Democratic Party and he served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1953 to 1958.

Sam Gibbons then served in the Florida Senate from 1959 to 1962 after beating the incumbent Paul Kickliter.

Sam Gibbons was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1962 from a newly created district based in Tampa after defeating segregationist Sumter de Leon Lowry Jr.

Sam Gibbons voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1964, but in favor of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Civil Rights Act of 1968.

Sam Gibbons usually skated to reelection in what was generally reckoned as the only Democratic bastion on Florida's Gulf Coast.

Sam Gibbons thus retired having never been defeated in 44 years as an elected official.

Sam Gibbons was succeeded by State Representative Jim Davis, whom he had endorsed as his successor.

Sam Gibbons was acting chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee from 1994 until the Democrats lost control of the House in 1995.

Sam Gibbons was much more supportive of trade liberalization throughout his career than most House Democrats, who have leaned toward protectionism since the early 1970s.

Sam Gibbons had a few verbal showdowns with the newly elected Republican congress during his last term.

Sam Gibbons compared the new Republicans to dictators and shouted that he had "to fight you guys 50 years ago," referring to Nazi Germany in World War II.