Resolution 234-1989
County Commission
RESOLUTION NO. 234 -1989
-.t
," ~ RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMIS-
.~:,:HONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, PROCLAIM-
,::5o;:!BG MAY 5, 1989, AS DR. JOSEPH YATES PORTER
~~Y IN MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA.
_.-J ,u
~ >-:x':w
:E: z...Jo
WH~~~, Dr. Joseph Yates Porter, a native son of Florida,
....I ~ 0 0
-!'O 1:
~as born in Key West on October 21, 1847, to Joseph Yates and
Cl
a::
o
(..)
l.J..:
n:
0::
c'
l.J..,
a
w
o
c:>
N
a..
~
I
Mary A. (Randolph) Porter and educated in the public schools of
Burlington, New Jersey, and Jefferson Medical College of
Philadelphia, from which he was graduated with the class of 1870,
and
WHEREAS, Dr. Porter was appointed acting assistant surgeon
in the United States Army in 1870, and was sent to Fort
Jefferson, where he spent three and a half years, and
WHEREAS, while stationed there he passed through several
yellow fever epidemics, during which his services won him fame
second to no man in this country, and his methods of treating the
dread disease became accepted as authority on the subject, and
WHEREAS, in June, 1875, he was appointed Assistant Surgeon
in the Army with the rank of First Lieutenant and later promoted
to the rank of Captain, where he remained in the military service
in the capacity of Surgeon until 1889, a period of nineteen
years, and
WHEREAS, during that time he was on duty at Tortugas, Key
West, Tampa, Miami and in Texas, and
WHEREAS, in 1887 during the yellow fever epidemic in this
area he was Chairman of the Monroe County Board of Health at Key
West and was in control of government relief in Tampa, and
WHEREAS, during the epidemic in Jacksonville in 1888 he was
Surgeon in charge of the United States government relief measures
and for his dedication of service to humanity the State Legisla-
ture honored him with a vote of thanks, and
WHEREAS, upon his retirement from the Army in 1889
Dr. Porter was made State Health Officer of Florida, a position
he held for a quarter of a century, and
WHEREAS, during his tenure in this position, Dr. Porter was
able to eliminate this disease in Florida through careful atten-
tion to preventive measures, and
WHEREAS, in 1907 in recognition of his efficient service to
humanity at large and to this community in particular, he was
restored to the United States Army and immediately retired with
rank of lieutenant colonel, and
WHEREAS, in 1900 he was elected to represent Monroe County
in the State Legislature and served one term, and
WHEREAS, Dr. Porter made many contributions to leading
medical journals, his knowledge and ability placing him in the
front rank among representative of the medical profession in the
country, and
WHEREAS, he was always concerned with the welfare of city,
state and nation and believed that the interests of the people
can be promoted trough the attainment of good health, good roads
and good schools, now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that in recognition of Dr. Joseph Yates
Porter's dedication to the health, safety and welfare of our
community, our state and nation, said Board hereby proclaims
May 5, 1989 as
DR. JAMES YATES PORTER DAY
in Monroe County, Florida, and urges all citizens to participate
in any activities commemorating Dr. Porter's humanitarianism.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of
Monroe County, Florida, at a regular meeting of said Board held
on the Jf'f" day of April, A. D. 1989.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
By /J/!~~
Mayo al.rman
(Seal)
Attest:DANNY 4 ~QLHAGE. ~k
~ ~,~,,(',
er
~./ID'" TO,..,
AND LEGAL SU,"1CDI:r.
BY
~
Atto,n ~ .' ....>
2