1912 – 1953

Perhaps the most famous graduate of the Delaware Avenue school was Daniel Thomas McCarty, the thirty -first Governor of Florida.  He attended grade school, junior high, and senior high school there.  While in high school, he enjoyed great success as both a student and athlete.  He was captain of the football team, editor-in-chief of the year book, and vice-president of his class.  A quote from the 1930 yearbook described his as “The captain of our school ship of state–and how able a captain.”

McCarty went on to become a citrus grower and beef cattleman in Ft. Pierce. He served as St. Lucie County Representative in the 1937, 1939, and 1941 sessions of the Florida House (during the 1941 session he was Speaker of the House). After being runner-up for the Democratic Gubernatorial nomination in 1948, he was elected Governor in 1952. He suffered a disabling heart attack on February 25, 1953, and died September 28, 1953. The new high school, built in 1954, was named Daniel T. McCarty High School in his honor.