The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1926-05-27
IN HONOR OF DOCTOR PORTER
Tampa Telegraph


Any city or state that subordinates sentiment
descends into a "Slough of Despond." Florida
stands among the jewels of comnonwealths because
it has always evidenced appreciation Of its builders
and illustrious citizens and Americans. Sentiment
memoriazes the worthy distinguished services of
both the living and the dead. In Tampa for illus
tration we have educational institutions named in
honor of great leaders, and streets and avenues
named for many who have proved of much
structive value.
Throughout the state we have counties named
in honor of Presidents shown by Washington,
jefferson, Monroe, Madison and Polk, while Gov
errors have been complimented in the naming of
Broward, Duva Gilchrist, Hardee, Martin and Du-
val counties, while other counties bear the names
of Flagler, Putnam, Pasco, Levy, Holmes Hendry,
Collier and Others with many towns and cities
doing honor to worthy men.
Florida has long list of doors whom it hes
honored-and a greater list of those who equal
ly entitled to distinguished recognition Over
the Island City of Key West is aged Floridian
whose work for Florida stands out in reflected
glory-a man who has made international fame
a man who spent the best years of his life in
successful efforts to have healthier state and
a healthier Union This man whose shadows arc
rapidly falling toward the east is DR.. Joseph Y.
Porter, Florida cracker born in Key West and
who for twenty-seven years Florida's State
Health Officer, and who was in 1888 placed in
charge of the yellow fever outbreak in Florida and
whose valiant service, caused Frank P. Fleming
then Governor of Florida to call a special session
of the Legislature to create State Board of
Health to be directed by Doctor Porter, who laid
the health foundation of Florda's future
At recent meeting of the Florida Anti-BIos-
quito Association it proposed to establish two
chairs professorships of Preventive Medicine and
Sanitation at the University of Florida and the
State College for Women in commemoration of the
long, faithful loyal service to the State Of Florida
of Dr. Joseph Y. Porter of Key West 1t was sug-
gested that each chair be designated as the Colonel
Joseph Yates Porter chair of Preventive Medicine
and Sanitation.
1t was pointed out by George w. Simons, Jr.,
of Jacksonville former associate of Dr. Porter in
State Health work. that in all the intense enthusi-
asm of today many of those who paved the way,
and made possible, the bigger brighter things of
the present day had escaped notice, and that
Floridian deserved greater credit for worthy
achievement than DR.. J. Y. Porter.
1t was a Florida doctor-Gorrie of Apalachi-
cola, who through his invention of artificial ice
saved millions of people, and billions of dollars in
products. 1t was DIR. Porter that brought Florida
forward as one of the heathest spots on earth.
No material thing could possibly express to
DR.. Porter the proper feeling of gratitude
splenddly and appropriately than the Chairs Of
Preventive Medicine and Sanitation at two
State Institutions of higher learning. Such chairs
would serve to recognize and memorabilia the ser
vice of this who long and faithfully served his
fellowmen-Chairs established in those places
where the present generation is taught the
sponsbiity of the future and Sold how to preserve
and carry on the splendid health teachings of the
past.