[Cecil] Farris Bryant, thirty-fourth Governor (January 3, 1961-January 5, 1965), was born on July 26, 1914, near the family's Marion county farm. He was one of the three children of Cecil and Lela (Farris) Bryant. While the father farmed, his profession was that of an accountant, and he was one of the early members of the State Board of Accountancy. An uncle of the Governor, Ion Farris, twice served as Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, and this perhaps influenced Farris Bryant to seek a public career through legislative service. After graduation from the University of Florida and Harvard Law School, he was elected in 1946 to the first of five legislative terms, the last four without opposition, and served as Speaker of the 1953 House.
Education was recognized by Governor Bryant as the critical factor of Florida's future. The Governor helped the public's acceptance of a Constitutional amendment authorizing the sale of bonds for construction at institutions of higher learning by which more than $1 billion of construction has been provided. The Bryant administration also saw coordination of state-federal energies for expanded water control projects, including the start of construction of the Cross-Florida Barge Canal. The Bryant years brought the Sunshine State Parkway from Fort Pierce to Wildwood, Alligator Alley from Fort Lauderdale to Naples, and a special program for constructing multilane highways without regard for road board districts or county boundaries.
After service as Governor, Bryant went to Jacksonville to resume the practice of law as member of the firm Bryant, Freeman, Richardson and Watson. He also became Chairman of the Boards of the National Life of Florida Corporation and Voyager Life Insurance Company, Atlantic Warranty Company, T.V. Station WTLV, Worth Avenue National Bank and other enterprises.
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