William F. "Willie" Garcia papers, 1940-2008
Collection context
Summary
- Creator:
- Garcia, William F. (1931-2008)
- Abstract:
- William F. "Willie" Garcia (1931-2008) was a key figure in twentieth-century Tampa, Florida. Known as "Mr. Democrat," Willie Garcia was highly involved in politics and had a successful career as a Judge Advocate General. Alongside his wife, Elvira Garcia, Willie was also instrumental to the preservation of Spanish-American history in Tampa, FL.
- Extent:
- 7.3 Linear Feet
- 11 boxes
- Language:
- English Spanish; Castilian
- Preferred citation:
William F. "Willie" Garcia Papers, USF Libraries - Tampa Special Collections, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.
Background
- Scope and content:
The papers are comprised of materials related to Willie Garcia's professional and personal life from 1940-2008. Of particular focus is Garcia's political involvement on local, state, and national levels, including items from the Clinton-Gore campaign of 1996, the Young Democratic Club of Florida, and John F. Kennedy's visit to Tampa, FL. In addition to politics, the collection reflects Garcia's robust interest in Spanish-American history and culture, noted in many documents related to Asturias, the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, the Spanish Civil War, and Ybor City.
- Biographical / historical:
William F. "Willie" Garcia was born June 3, 1931, and passed away on September 19, 2008, at 77 years of age. He was a man of many accomplishments, and after earning his law degree at the University of Florida, held membership at the American Bar, Hillsborough County Bar, and Florida Bar Associations for fifty years. In addition to owning his own law firm with William H. Frecker, Garcia served as Judge Advocate General in the U.S. Airforce Reserve for thirty years, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He was a staunch advocate of the Democratic Party, as well a board member for the Centro Asturiano de Tampa, the Harvard Club of the West Coast of Florida, and president of the Young Democratic Clubs of Florida. He was married to his wife, Elvira "Vera" Tamargo Garcia, for fifty-one years, and had two sons, William T. Garcia and Louis Joseph Garcia. The William F. "Willie" Garcia Papers primarily document his professional achievements, such as his key participation in the Clinton campaign and lengthy military service. It also contains many records that highlight his deep love of Beach Street, Spanish culture, and his family.
References:
"William Garcia Obituary (2008)." Legacy: Tampa Bay Times. September 25, 2008,
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/tampabaytimes/name/william-garcia-obituary?id=10767665
- Acquisition information:
- Donation by William T. Garcia, Personal Representative of the Estate of Elvira "Vera" Garcia
- Arrangement:
The records are arranged into six series, including (1). Professional Papers (2). Personal Papers (3). Photographs, (4). Artifacts (5). Oversized Items, and (6). Cataloged Books.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Access and use
- Restrictions:
None.
- Terms of access:
None. The contents of the collection may be subject to copyright. Visit the United States Copyright Office's website at http://www.copyright.gov/ for more information.
- Preferred citation:
William F. "Willie" Garcia Papers, USF Libraries - Tampa Special Collections, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.
- Location of this collection:
-
The University of South Florida, Tampa Campus4202 East Fowler Ave. LIB122TampaFL33620-5400USA
