[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 79 (Thursday, May 21, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E769-E770]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           HELEN GORDON DAVIS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. KATHY CASTOR

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 21, 2015

  Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize the 
outstanding work of a trailblazing public servant and one of the 
champions of the Florida equal rights and civil rights movements, the 
late Florida State Senator Helen Gordon Davis, who represented the 
Tampa Bay area in the Florida Legislature from 1974 until 1992.
   Senator Davis devoted her public service career to confronting and 
changing the inequalities in economic, legal and social status for 
women and African Americans. She was a true pioneer for pay equity for 
women. In 1980, Mrs. Davis was presented with the Florida ACLU Bill of 
Rights Award as a testament to her dedication for civil liberties for 
all.
   Senator Davis was elected to the Florida State House of 
Representatives in 1974 as the first woman from Hillsborough County to 
be elected to the Florida Legislature. She was subsequently re-elected 
six times. In 1988, Senator Davis successfully ran for the state Senate 
where she fought for economic equality for women, and sponsored the 
first legislation on sexual harassment. Among her many achievements, 
Mrs. Davis created the Marriage License Trust fund for Spouse Abuse 
Centers, Court Depositories for Child Support Payments, the Displaced 
Homemakers for Divorced Women Act, and doubled the penalties for hate 
crimes.
   With passion and courage, Mrs. Davis paved the way for future 
generations of Hillsborough County women in politics.
   Before her time as an influential legislator, Mrs. Davis was 
president of the League of Women Voters of Hillsborough County from 
1966-1969. In 1971, Mrs. Davis founded Florida's first women's center 
which sought to help women succeed in the workplace and helped many 
gain tangible professional and life skills. Mrs. Davis was the first 
recipient of the

[[Page E770]]

League of Women Voters of Hillsborough County's Lifetime Achievement 
Award.
   Mrs. Davis was born on Christmas Day, 1926 in Brooklyn, New York. 
Originally a stage actress, Mrs. Davis moved to Tampa in 1948 with 
husband Gene Davis, where she was a high school drama teacher and 
regular fixture in the community theater.
   Although Mrs. Davis passed away on May 18, 2015, her legacy will 
continue through her broad-based legislative accomplishments, the 
Women's Centre in the Hyde Park community of Tampa, and the women she 
championed both professionally and personally. Mrs. Davis is survived 
by her daughters Stephanie and Karen, her son Gordon, her sister 
Jeanne, and her two grandchildren. On behalf of the Tampa community, I 
am proud to recognize Helen Gordon Davis for her dedication to 
Hillsborough County, the State of Florida, and to women everywhere.

                          ____________________