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Claude Kirk

Claude R. Kirk Jr.
Governor Claude R Kirk.jpg
Official portrait of Governor Claude R. Kirk, January 1967
36th Governor of Florida
In office
January 3, 1967 – January 5, 1971
Lieutenant None
Ray C. Osborne
Preceded by W. Haydon Burns
Succeeded by Reubin Askew
Personal details
Born Claude Roy Kirk Jr.
(1926-01-07)January 7, 1926
San Bernardino, California, USA
Died September 28, 2011(2011-09-28) (aged 85)
West Palm Beach, Florida
Resting place South Florida National Cemetery Lake Worth, Florida
Political party Republican (1960–1978, after 1990)
Other political
affiliations
Democrat (prior to 1960); (1978-1990)
Spouse(s) (1) Sarah Stokes (1947–1950 & 1951–1966) 4 children
(2) Erika Mattfeld (1967–2011, his death) 2 children
Children Sarah, Katherine, William, Frank, Adriana, Claudia, Erik
Alma mater Duke University
University of Alabama
Profession Businessman
Religion Episcopalian
Military service
Allegiance  United States
Service/branch  United States Marine Corps
Rank Second Lieutenant
Battles/wars World War II and Korean War

Claude Roy Kirk Jr. (January 7, 1926 – September 28, 2011), was the 36th Governor of the U.S. state of Florida (1967–1971). He was the first Republican Governor of Florida since Reconstruction.

Kirk was born in San Bernardino, California. He lived in Chicago, Illinois, and Montgomery, Alabama, where he attended Sidney Lanier High School. After graduating at age seventeen, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps reserve and rose to the rank of second lieutenant, having served stateside during World War II. He briefly attended Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia before he transferred to Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. Kirk was accepted at the University of Alabama School of Law in Tuscaloosa and graduated in 1949. He was recalled to the Marines for the Korean War and was initially assigned to the 1st Marine Division. He later served aboard the battleship USS New Jersey and was discharged as a first lieutenant in 1952.


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