[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 37 (Thursday, March 14, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E298-E299]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING FREDERICK KARL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. KATHY CASTOR

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 14, 2013

  Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life 
and accomplishments of Mr. Frederick Karl. His extensive contributions 
to numerous private and public agencies, including all levels of 
government in Florida, have left an unforgettable legacy for community 
leaders across the country to learn from and follow.
  Mr. Karl was born in Daytona, Florida, where he attended high school 
and was voted ``Most Personal'' by his senior class. He was born into 
the Great Depression, but also born into a family of public service; 
his mother, Mary, was a public school teacher who later founded a 
vocational school, now Daytona State College. She was inducted into the 
Florida Women's Hall of Fame in 2011.
  The attack on Pearl Harbor compelled Mr. Karl to join the U.S. Army 
in 1942 and he was commissioned as a lieutenant at age 18. After 
fighting throughout Europe, he came home at the end of World War II, 
bearing the silver and bronze stars for valor and a Purple Heart for 
injuries he sustained from German shrapnel during the Battle of the 
Bulge. Upon his return, he pursued higher education and earned a law 
degree from Stetson University. He started a distinguished career 
practicing law.
  By 1956, Mr. Karl's calling for public service steered him towards 
politics. He was elected to the Florida House of Representatives, where 
he served for eight years. His devotion to fairness and high ethical 
standards earned him the reputation as ``Conscience of the House''--
this would become his legacy.
  Serving as a state representative was the beginning of a long career 
in public service for Mr. Karl. After a run for the Governor's office, 
beginning in 1968, he spent four years in the state Senate. He presided 
over the trials of 52 officials suspended by the Governor, establishing 
a Rules for Suspension and Removal of Public Service from Office. In 
1974, he was named Florida's first public counsel, a lawyer who argues 
for citizens on utility rate cases before the Florida Public Service 
Commission. In 1976, he became the last state Supreme Court Justice to 
be elected by Florida voters.
  In between service at the state level, Mr. Karl also contributed to 
his local community, as attorney for the Volusia County School 
District, and the Cities of Daytona Beach and Ormand Beach.
  In 1984, Mr. Karl's stature was called upon after ethics and 
creditability rocked Hillsborough County government following the 
arrest of several commissioners on bribery charges. Mr. Karl soon 
became Hillsborough County administrator, where he was known for his 
keen balance of thoughtfulness and decisiveness. He helped establish a 
new health care plan that integrated social services to provide a link 
to the various problems and challenges faced by indigent residents. The 
program has since been acclaimed nationally and served as a model for 
communities across the country. As a proponent of fairness, he took the 
lead on establishing diversity within county government, naming special 
officers that would ensure inclusion at all levels of government, from 
hiring, to procurement to leadership.
  Today, a 28-story building where most Hillsborough County government 
business is conducted bears Mr. Karl's name. Capitalizing on the real 
estate recession of the early 1990s, he engineered the purchase of the 
building to bring together more than 1,700 employees and more than 30 
county departments and agencies under one roof, saving taxpayers money 
and increasing customer convenience for those seeking multiple services 
from their county government.
  Even after more than 50 years of dedication, Mr. Karl left 
Hillsborough County and continued sharing his wisdom and leadership. He 
served as president of Tampa General Hospital, lead attorney for the 
City of Tampa and a consultant for Poe Financial Group in Tampa as well 
as the Tampa-Hillsborough County Expressway Authority.

[[Page E299]]

  Mr. Karl passed away March 7, 2013, at age 88. He was a true 
professional who provided his tremendous legal skills, service and 
talent to our community, as well as to so many communities throughout 
Florida. We were fortunate to benefit from his commitment to fairness, 
diplomacy and fortitude, and we should forever be grateful for his 
contributions.

                          ____________________