This year marks Florida Trend’s 50th anniversary. As part of our celebration, we’ll be producing stories that look back at previous issues to highlight how much Florida has changed in the past half-century — and to spotlight issues that have persisted.
This September, share the spotlight with Florida Trend as we
celebrate 50 years covering Florida business. » Celebrate With Us
A reader wrote to remind us that Hamilton Jordan, President Jimmy Carter’s chief of staff who died in May, had a big impact on professional sports in Florida. Michael Curet, former editor-in-chief of ATP Tour’s International Tennis Weekly, writes:
“The passing of Hamilton Jordan in May should not go unnoticed by the Florida business community. Most remember him as a political figure and advocate of cancer research. Some remember that he was a founding member of the group that eventually led to Jacksonville receiving an NFL franchise — the Jaguars.
But it was tennis that brought Jordan to Florida. I was a young staffer when Jordan relocated the men’s Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) to northeast Florida in 1988. I watched firsthand as he assembled a group of local Jacksonville businessmen and embarked on a project that would eventually impact almost every continent. In slightly over a year, the $6-million international headquarters of men’s tennis in Ponte Vedra Beach had been constructed, along with a resort-style tennis club. For the state and the Jacksonville economy, it meant another professional sports organization to call Florida home, but for Jordan, it was only the beginning. He orchestrated a ‘coup,’ with ATP touring pros outside the gates of the U.S. Open in New York voicing their intention to form the ATP Tour. Within months, 125 tournament cities in 32 countries had applied, and a $54-million marketing deal was in place. Soon the players had a new pension plan, thanks to Jordan. In less than four years in professional tennis, he bridged gaps, created interest and inspired the top players in the game to give back to a sport that had given them so much. Tournaments, players, fans, sponsors all benefited, and the most productive era of professional tennis was born. The ATP still operates from its offices in Ponte Vedra Beach. And today’s players can be thankful that Jordan set lofty goals for the organization and then met them.”
Pages from the Past -
From 1972 to 1986, Gene Burnett wrote a column for Florida Trend about people and events instrumental in Florida's past.
»Read Selected Columns
Small Screen Florida: 50 Years of TV Explore TV shows from "Sea Hunt" to "CSI: Miami" that were filmed here in the Sunshine State with this interactive map. See clips and vote for your favorite, too. »Click here.
PRINT READERS: Looking for answers to our quiz on page 28 (April 2008)? - Click here.
Submarine Travel Didn't Pan Out
As part of its 10th anniversary issue in 1968, Florida Trend made a number of predictions about the state’s future.How did we do — and how will you do on some related questions you can use to test your Florida Business IQ?
» Try the quiz.
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