Verle A. Pope
(1903-1973)

Died aged c. 70

Verle A. Pope, 51st president of the Florida Senate, was born in Jacksonville, December 12, 1903. He spent most of his life in St. Augustine where he became a successful businessman and one of St. Johns County’s largest landowners. He first entered politics in 1934 as a candidate for the St. Johns County Commission. He won a seat in the Florida House of Representatives in 1942 but resigned to enter the U. S. Army. He returned to St. Augustine in 1945 and in 1948 was elected to the Florida Senate. He served as Senate President from 1966 to 1968. Pope helped approve the Florida Constitutional revision of 1968, establish the community college system, create the Historic St. Augustine Preservation Board and advance the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind. He donated 40 acres of land to the St. Augustine Technical School and contributed to historic preservation in St. Augustine. Verle A. Pope died at his St. Augustine home July 18, 1973.

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