Tiger Bay Club To Discuss Life Of FL Rep. Terrell Sessums

TAMPA, FL — The Tampa Tiger Bay Club will present a panel discussion on the life and times of the late Florida Speaker of the House Terrell Sessums during a special Tiger Bay After Dark gathering at Oxford Exchange at 6 p.m. on Oct. 26.

The panelists will be USF Distinguished Professor Emerita Susan MacManus; Sessums’ brother, attorney Steve Sessums; retired Judge E.J. Salcines; and attorney Richard Salem, Sessums’ last law partner.

The program will focus on Sessums’ memoir, Speaking of Florida: My Time Remembered, published last year just before his death. The book will be available for purchase.

Sessums was House speaker from 1972-1974. He is credited with creating the Hillsborough County Expressway Authority, Tampa Sports Authority, the Florida State Fair Authority, the Hillsborough Arts Council and the Hillsborough Environmental Protection Commission.

Sessums Mall on the campus of the University of South Florida was dedicated in 1999. T. Terrell Sessums Elementary School in Riverview was named in his honor when it opened in 2003.

“This event will harken back to a time in Florida when our politics were less polarized and elected officials worked together to get things done regardless of political differences,” said Tiger Bay Club President Tom Scherberger.

The event, which is open to the public, will be at Oxford Exchange, 420 W. Grand Central Ave., beginning with a reception at 6 p.m. with complimentary appetizers and drinks followed by the program at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 and available at tigerbayclub.com.

Upcoming Tiger Bay Club Events

Nov. 12, noon at The Cuban Club —Tampa Bay Rays President Brian Auld will discuss the team’s proposal to build new home ballparks in Tampa Bay and Montreal, and divide home games between them.

Dec 10, noon at The Cuban Club — Hillsborough County constitutional officers will discuss how they serve the public.

The Tampa Tiger Bay Club, founded in 1982, is a nonpartisan political group that presents discussions on important issues and candidates running for office.