Hundreds of UF students, officials and alumni gathered at the Bob Graham Center for Public Service on Wednesday morning to dedicate the center and honor its namesake - a man UF President Bernie Machen deemed UF's "most prominent graduate."
Joe Glover, interim dean for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, made the opening remarks at the ceremony, commemorating former U.S. Sen. Bob Graham for keeping public service alive in higher education.
Machen also remarked on Graham's political career spanning half a century, beginning with his run for UF freshman class president in 1955 - his only loss in an election, Machen added.
But Graham didn't give up, he said. Instead, he decided to run for Honor Court.
"Graham won, and a political career was born," he said.
Machen said that establishing a relationship with Graham and his wife, Adele, was one of the best things that had happened to him in his four years living in Florida.
Jim Pugh, namesake for Pugh Hall and a UF alumnus, noted Graham's "work days" beginning in the 1970s, when he worked side by side with Florida police, construction workers, teachers and even garbage men to gain personal insight on the everyday lives of Floridians.
"He's the only Harvard graduate that I have ever known who enjoyed manual labor," Pugh said with a laugh.
"He's been an inspiration to everyone in this room."
In an interview after the ceremony, Pugh said the event gave him an opportunity to see a lot of familiar faces.
He said he had high expectations for the Graham Center, and it can only improve over time.
Pugh, who graduated from UF in 1963, said he and his friends used to look at UF buildings and wonder whom they were named after.
"Now we have our name on a building," he said. "Our claim to fame is no more than having great love for this university."
Following the ceremony, four former Florida governors, including Graham, took the stage.
Reubin Askew, Buddy McKay, Wayne Mixson and Graham discussed political leadership and the importance of the Graham Center to encourage public service among students.
Former Gov. Claude Kirk, who was also scheduled to appear at the forum, was unable to attend the event.
Graham said he hoped the center would encourage students to be enthusiastic about their government. He added that teachers need to be just as eager to learn.
McKay said the center was not only a dream fulfilled, but also the beginning of more dreams to come.
"If the Legislature can deal with long-term issues, students could," McKay said. "I'd like to see the students lead."
When a student asked Askew, a Florida State University professor and UF alumnus, about the rivalry between UF and FSU, Askew said he was equally proud of both universities.
McKay added that the universities share more interest today than they ever have before and can help each other become stronger.
Mixson said in an interview that people expect political leaders to do everything without public input.
"That's not the American system," he said.
"We need strong men and women to advise us on what's right."
David Lopez, a political science junior, said he thought the governors made a good point by emphasizing student involvement.
"If any change is going to come about in the State University System, it's going to have to come at the hands of students," Lopez said.
The Graham Center will host a lecture today at 7:30 p.m. with Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., and Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., as part of the center's presidential lecture series.
Free tickets are available in Room 220 of Pugh Hall.
