Florida Hero: Marjorie Harris Carr
Jesscina Tower A3
About Marjorie Harris Carr
Marjorie Harris Carr was born on March 26, 1915. Being Boston born and Florida raised, Carr had always loved the environment and felt a deep connection to it. She loved it so much that she would go on to become an important advocate for one of Florida's important ecosystem.
Florida State College for Women, University of Florida
She first attended the University of Florida. Shortly after leaving UF, she began attending Florida State University. In 1936, she acquired her Bachelor's in zoology from the Florida State College for Women. In 1942, she obtained her master's in the same field from the University of Florida. After her schooling was finally over, she became a wildlife technician in Florida for the Federal Government.
Contributions
1962: She wanted to stop the construction of the Cross Florida Barge Canal (a huge, multi-million dollar project that would wipe out the Everglades.)
1969: Carr founded the Florida Defenders of the Environment; an organization hell-bent on shutting down the project.
1970: Florida Defenders of the Environment issue an Environmental Impact Statement through scientific, technical, and economic research
1971: Project was abandoned.
Today: The rescued area is preserved and has been named Marjorie Carr Cross Florida Greenway, in honor of Carr's perseverance and dedication to shutting down the project.