BRIANNA EDLER – The Corsair
State and community colleges all around Florida are flying their flags at half staff in honor of Clark Maxwell, Jr.
Maxwell, a former Brevard County school board member, state representative, state senator, and leader of Florida Community College System, passed away at the age of 76 on January 18th, 2011 at his home in Palm Coast, Florida, according to Florida Today.
Maxwell was elected to the Brevard County School Board in 1965, where he served as chairman for seven years. He was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 1974 and the Florida Senate in 1978, where he served for six years. Maxwell served on the House and Senate education committees and served as the Senate Republican leader from 1982-1984.
Maxwell became the founding Executive Director of the State Community College System in 1984 and served until he retired in 1997.
“He built the State College System, before there were 28 people all going in different directions. He was a very enjoyable and generous man. He was concerned with Community Colleges and made sure the system got what it needed,” said Larry Bracken, PJC’s executive director of government affairs.
Maxwell was named “Legislator of the Year” twice by the Florida Association of Community Colleges.
In honor of Clark’s service to the state and community college system and the State of Florida, colleges will fly their flags at half mast from January 24th through January 28th.