Recognizing Geraldine F. Thompson's Service to the Great State of Florida

Floor Speech

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Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, Geraldine F. Thompson was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and grew up in the South Dade town of Perrine, Florida, where members of her family worked in agriculture and construction. She was married to the Honorable Emerson R. Thompson, Jr. She was the mother of three children--Laurise, Emerson III, and Elizabeth--and the proud grandmother of six granddaughters and one great-grandson. She enjoyed reading, writing, volunteering, and traveling.

She attended Miami Dade Community College. After receiving a scholarship to the University of Miami, she received an undergraduate degree in 1970 and a Master of Science from Florida State University in 1973. Geraldine F. Thompson served for six years as an Orange County Public Schools teacher. She later served for 24 years as an administrator at Valencia Community College, where she established the College Reach Out Program, which enabled thousands of low-income and disadvantaged students to fulfill their dream of going to college.

Senator Thompson developed a reputation as a respected local historian for compiling the history of African Americans in Central Florida and authoring the book ``Black America: Orlando, Florida.'' She developed a passion for the history of African Americans in Central Florida. She wrote a play based on her book called ``A Vote a Voice.''

Her passion led her to preserve one of Orlando's unique landmarks, the Wells'Built Hotel. During the days of segregation, it provided lodging to some of America's most prominent citizens, including Justice Thurgood Marshall, Ray Charles, and performers on the chitlin circuit. Today, that landmark is known as the Wells'Built Museum of African American History and Culture.

She served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2006 to 2012 and 2018 to 2022. She was elected to the Florida Senate in 2012 and served until 2016, and she was serving as the senator of Senate District 15 in Orlando at the time of her death. Significant legislation that she initiated and passed included bills to exonerate the Groveland Four, provide compensation to James Joseph Richardson, who was wrongfully incarcerated for 22 years, outlaw discrimination against pregnant women in the workplace, and a Specialty License Plate to benefit organizations that comprise the Divine Nine with 85 percent of the proceeds from the sale of the plate benefitting the organizations to support scholarships.

Career highlights, honors, and awards include: Having roads designated for Bob Billingslea, July Perry, Edna Hargrett, and Bessie Coleman; Resolution for George Starke and exoneration of the Groveland Four; Recipient of the 2022-2023 Humanitarian Award from the Orlando International Film Festival; 2021 Civil Rights Hall of Fame from City of Orlando 2022; Outstanding Public Official Award from Healthy Start Coalition of Orange County; 2019 MLK Humanitarian Award from Central Florida Steppers; 2022 Warrior for Democracy Award from The League of Women's Voters: 2022 Mountain Top Trailblazer Award from Cultured Pearls of Alpha Kappa Alpha; 2018 Drum Major Social Justice Award from Alpha Pi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; 2016 Legislative Advocacy Award from Democratic Women's Club of Florida Inc.; 2013 Mary Hatwood Human and Civil Rights Award from the National Education Association; 2012 Martin Luther King Jr. Achievement Award from Inter-Civic Council of the Southern Christian Leadership Council; 1996 Commitment to Excellence Award from Mid-Florida Chapter of NFBPA; 1992 Summit Award from the Women's Source Center; and Life Time Achievement Award from the Metropolitan Orlando Urban League.

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