Paula Hawkins, conservative Republican U.S. senator from 1980 to 1986, died Dec. 4 at age 82 after falling at her Maitland home.

Sen. Paula Hawkins

Hawkins, the first woman elected to a full Senate term without a family political connection, was known as a defender of children and working mothers. She was instrumental in getting passed the Missing Children's Act, which put the names of missing kids into the FBI's national crime database.

In 1982, she was seriously injured when a television studio backdrop fell on her. She underwent surgery in 1986 and lost her re-election bid that year to Democrat Bob Graham, who was then governor.

Hawkins kicked off her political career in 1972, winning a seat on the Florida Public Service Commission. She was re-elected to the commission in 1976 after voting against utility rate hikes and pushing for open meetings.

"She had true grit," said her husband, Gene Hawkins. "She never, ever let up."