Through nearly four decades of public service and at every level of government, Daniel Robert “Bob” Graham became one of the most accomplished and popular figures in Florida’s history. When he left the governorship, he measured an 83% approval rating and remained beloved by Floridians regardless of political party. Through these photo galleries, follow the journey that endeared him to the people of Florida, the U.S. and the world. For additions or changes, we invite you to email Dorothy Zimmerman at dozimmer@ufl.edu.
Bob and Adele Graham at the groundbreaking of Pugh Hall, future home of the Bob Graham Center. 2006. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Bob Graham speaks at the groundbreaking of Pugh Hall. 2006. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Bob Graham speaks out outside at the University of Florida. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Bob Graham introduces L-R: former DNC Chair and future Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, moderator Michael Putney, and former RNC Chair Frank Fahrenkopf Jr. for bipartisan discussion. Sep. 5, 2008. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Bob Graham, Chairman of Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism, speaks as Tim Roemer of the Center for National Policy listens during a discussion on the commission’s report. Dec. 11, 2008. —Source: Alex Wong/Getty Images
Bob Graham questions bankers during a Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission hearing on Capitol Hill on Jan. 13, 2010. The commission heard testimony on the root causes of the 2008 financial crisis and how to prevent it in the future. —Source: Mark Wilson/Getty Images
President Barack Obama and BP Oil Spill Commission Co-Chairs, Bob Graham (left) and William K. Reilly (right), make their way through the Colonnade to the Rose Garden June 1, 2010 following a meeting in the White House Oval Office. —Source: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
President Barack Obama and BP Oil Spill Commission co-chairs, William Reilly, left, and Bob Graham, right, walk back to the Oval Office after speaking to the media in the White House Rose Garden, June 1, 2010. —Source: Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy
Bob Graham, co-chair of the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling, leads public hearings. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Bob Graham sepaks at a hearing of the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Members of the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling hold public hearings, Sep. 24, 2010. —Source: Bob Graham Center
The co-chairmen of the Deepwater Horizon commission, Sen. Bob Graham, Democrat of Florida, left, and William Reilly, a Republican former EPA administrator, on Capitol Hill in 2011. —Source: Brendan Hoffman/New York Times/Getty Images
William K. Reilly and Bob Graham during the release of the BP oil spill commission’s report in Washington, DC on Jan. 11, 2011. —Source: Joshua Roberts/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Former Sen. Bob Graham, co-chair of the national Oil Spill Commission, speaks at the release of the commission’s final report. Jan. 11, 2011. —Source: Jay Mallin/ZUMAPRESS.com
Bob Graham donates his papers to the University of Florida Libraries. Some papers are displayed as part of an exhibit, 2011. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Bob Graham with a (very) limited portion of his papers as they were brought to the University of Florida Libraries. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Bob Graham and Sandra Day O’Connor on stage for a Graham Center event in 2011. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Graham Center students and Bob Graham hosted Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor in 2011. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Kal Penn, actor-turned-White-House-staffer, joins Bob Graham and center students as part of the White House’s 100 Youth Roundtables during the Obama Administration. April 2011. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Bob Graham Center hosts Dr. Pedro José Greer on March 13, 2012. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Bob Graham with 2013 Bob Graham Center Citizen of the Year, Nathaniel Reed; and Citizen of the Year Honorees , Ellen Freidin and Martha Barnett. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Bob Graham with 2014 Bob Graham Center Citizen of the Year, Daniel Lawrence Jr.; and Young Floridian, Vance Aloupis. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Graham Center students and Bob Graham at an event with Sen. Alan Simpson in 2015. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Bob Graham welcomes civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis to the University of Florida and Bob Graham Center for an event in 2015. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Bob Graham welcomes civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis to the University of Florida and Bob Graham Center for an event in 2015. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Bob Graham with 2015 Bob Graham Center Citizen of the Year, Lucy Morgan; and Young Floridian, Aaron Zahn. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Bob Graham with historian David McCullough at an event in Naples for the Bob Graham Center, 2016. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Bob Graham with 2016 Bob Graham Center Citizen of the Year, Harris Rosen. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Bob Graham with 2016 Bob Graham Center Young Floridian, Chester Spellman. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Bob Graham speaks at the UF College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Evening of Excellence, April 25, 2017. —Source: Bob Graham Center
2017 UF CLAS Evening of Excellence, April 25, 2017. L-R: CLAS Dean Dr. David Richardson, Caroline Nickerson, Hali McKinley Lester, Bob Graham, Dr. David Colburn. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Bob Graham sits outside UF’s Pugh Hall, home of the Bob Graham Center. Aug. 23, 2017. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Adele and Bob Graham sit in rocking chairs at the Graham Center, Aug. 23, 2017. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Bob Graham poses in front of his portrait in the Graham Center. Aug. 23, 2017. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Bob Graham speaks with students in the O’Neill Reading Room at the Graham Center, 2017. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Bob Graham with 2017 Bob Graham Center Citizen of the Year, Dr. Pedro José Greer; and Young Floridian, Ryan Smart. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Bob Graham speaks at the Graham Center’s 2018 Annual Gathering. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Bob Graham with 2018 Bob Graham Center Citizen of the Year, Allen Lastinger. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Bob Graham with 2018 Bob Graham Center Young Floridian, T. Nicole Washington. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Historian and former Graham Center Director Dr. David Colburn (left) with Bob Graham in 2019. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Bob Graham speaks as Graham Center Director Dr. Matthew Jacobs (middle) laughs. Nov. 8 2019. —Source: Bob Graham Center
In 2019, Bob Graham stands overlooking Pugh Hall’s “Ocora,” named for the Timicuan people’s word for “place of gathering.” —Source: Bob Graham Center
Bob Graham on second floor of Pugh Hall, 2019. —Source:
Adele and Bob Graham on the second floor of Pugh Hall, 2019. —Source: Bob Graham Center
In 2019, the Graham Center hosts former Florida governors. L-R: Reubin Askew, Bob Graham, Wayne Mixson, Kenneth “Buddy” MacKay. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Bob Graham speaks to a crowd at the Graham Center in 2019. —Source: Bob Graham Center
On Nov. 21, 2019, the Graham Center hosts Ibram X. Kendi (center) pictured with Bob and Adele Graham after the event, “How to be an Antiracist.” —Source: Bob Graham Center
In 2019, the Graham Center hosts state Rep. Vance Aloupis for a lunch and learn with students. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Bob Graham with 2019 Bob Graham Center Citizen of the Year, Desmond Meade; and Young Floridian, James Chan. —Source: Bob Graham Center
In his Pugh Hall Office, Bob Graham signs copies of “America, the Owner’s Manual.” —Source: Bob Graham Center
Graham spends lunch with students, May 28, 2010. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Graham spends lunch with students, May 28, 2010. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Bob Graham with students at the Center. Jan. 28, 2011. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Bob Graham with students at the Center. Jan. 28, 2011. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Bob Graham smiles on the phone surrounded by students. Jan. 28, 2011. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Jim Shimberg of the Bob Graham Center Council of Advisors with Bob Graham. —Source:
Bob Graham with the Center’s Student Fellows, Oct. 12, 2015. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Bob Graham and Gainesville Mayor Cynthia Chestnut with students interning in local government through the Graham Center. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Bob Graham speaks with students at lunch. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Bob Graham at lunch with students. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Graham Center students with Bob Graham. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Bob Graham Center staff and student assistants at holiday luncheon. L-R: Ana Cavalcante, Mike Waylen, Adele Graham, Bob Graham, Gustavo Duran, Andrew Shodell, Hannah Townley. Dec. 10, 2021. —Source: Dorothy Zimmerman
Bob Graham with Madison Gore. —Source: Madison Gore
Bob Graham with Andrew Shodell. —Source: Andrew Shodell
Bob Graham with Gustavo Duran. —Source: Gustavo Duran
Young Sophia Athan meets the Grahams at an airport and takes a picture with them, likely not knowing that one day she would become a student assistant at the Bob Graham Center for Public Service. —Source: Sophia Athan
Bob Graham smiles at one of his final public appearances. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Bob Graham (left) speaks at “2020 Political Divide” event with presidential historian Jon Meacham (center) and Sen. Bill Nelson. The event would be his last public appearance. —Source: Zachariah Chou
Bob Graham (left) speaks at “2020 Political Divide” event with presidential historian Jon Meacham (center) and Sen. Bill Nelson. The event would be his last public appearance. —Source: Zachariah Chou
