POLITICAL HISTORY
Campaign workers in Fort Pierce await the results of the
gubernatorial race in 1952.
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‘A GOOD TIME’
The McCartys had a housekeeper, and Register said the
atmosphere was very proper. “I learned a lot being around
all those people,” said Register, a volunteer with the St. Lucie
County Historical Museum. “They were strong people, good
people, smart people. In school, they were good students but
had a good time.”
On Saturday mornings, Register remembers Mrs.
McCarty loading up her children and their friends in the
family Lincoln and driving out to the family’s grove to
swim. “Mrs. McCarty was such a nice lady, and so good to
us, but she kept us in line, too.”
After graduation from the University of Florida, McCarty
returned home and became a cattleman and citrus grower,
and married Olie Brown. He served in the state House of
Representatives from 1937 to 1941.
During World War II, he served as a colonel in the U.S.
Seventh Army and received the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star,
Purple Heart and the French Croix de Guerre.
RACE FOR GOVERNOR
Returning home from the war to a life of politics, McCarty
ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1948. He ran again in
1952, facing another St. Lucie County resident, Florida
Supreme Court Justice Alto Lee Adams, in the Democratic
primary. The race split St. Lucie County residents (both candidates
also attended St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church), but
the rivalry remained gentlemanly. “They were two fine
groups of people doing what they thought they should be
doing, and everybody respected that,” Register said.
McCarty, who ran his statewide campaign out of an office at
East Coast Lumber & Supply Co. in Fort Pierce, beat Adams in
Gov. Dan McCarty signs papers at his office in Tallahassee. At left is his
brother John McCarty and at right is Earl Powers.
A huge crowd gathered outside the Capitol for the inauguration of
Dan McCarty as thirty-first governor.
Dan McCarty, left, receives the oath of office from Florida
Chief Justice H.L. Sebring.