Ryan Nicol
Gov. Ron DeSantis is ordering flags in Tallahassee to fly at half-staff following the death of Bill Gunter.
Flags at the Leon County Courthouse, City Hall and the State Capitol will be at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Monday, April 29.
Gunter represented Florida in Congress, served in the Florida Senate and was the state’s Treasurer and Insurance Commissioner.
“He displayed a lifelong commitment to public service,” DeSantis said in a statement announcing the move.
Gunter passed away in Tallahassee on April 8 at the age of 89 after being in hospice care.
First elected to the Florida Senate in 1966, Gunter ran for Congress and won in 1972. Four years later, he transitioned back to state government, where he held the roles of Insurance Commissioner, Treasurer, and Fire Marshal. Gunter also mounted a short run for Governor in 1986 before dropping his bid.
After his time in government, he spent nearly three decades in the private sector with Rogers, Gunter, Vaughn Insurance, Inc. until retiring in 2018.
“My heart goes out to the family and loved ones of Bill Gunter,” read a statement from Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis — who serves in a similar role as Gunter — when Gunter passed away.
“He was a strong, thoughtful public servant and pioneer in insurance regulation as Commissioner of Insurance, paving the way for future CFOs and working across party lines to ensure insurance consumers had the protections they needed. Bill was always very supportive of me and I have fond memories of him and his family dining at Captain Anderson’s when I was a bid. He will be dearly missed.”
“I was always real close to him and to learn of his passing was something I’ve been thinking about,” added former U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, who served in the Legislature while Gunter was in state government. “Just a tremendous individual who would make you want to do what’s right and to fight for people who are less fortunate.”
The Governor also ordered flags to be flown at half-staff late last week following the passing of former Gov. and U.S. Sen. Bob Graham.
One comment
Dont Say FLA
April 25, 2024 at 1:38 pm
The man’s claim to fame was “He was a strong, thoughtful public servant and pioneer in insurance regulation as Commissioner of Insurance, paving the way for future CFOs and working across party lines to ensure insurance consumers had the protections they needed. ”
So, uh, what happened to all that?
He passed, but he was preceded in passing by all his efforts.