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TALLAHASSEE - James Eaton Sr., a historian at Florida A&M University who founded a black archives research center, died Tuesday after a brief illness. He was 74.
Mr. Eaton, who taught at Florida A&M for 44 years, was selected outstanding teacher of the year 25 times, the university said in a release. The school said he never missed a day of class in more than 50 years of teaching.
Mr. Eaton was founder, curator and director of the Southeastern Regional Black Archives Research Center and Museum. The Richmond, Va., native earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Fisk University in Nashville. He was a history professor at Miles College in Birmingham, Ala., and an assistant principal in Richmond before coming to FAMU in 1958. He chaired the departments of History, Geography and African-American Studies from 1969 through 1977.
Survivors include his wife, Leathea, five children and two stepchildren.
Funeral plans were incomplete Tuesday, but the school scheduled a memorial service for Friday.
Lawsuit challenges amendment on ballotTALLAHASSEE - A lawsuit filed Tuesday against Secretary of State Glenda Hood challenges a proposed constitutional amendment that would change the timetable for getting future amendments on the ballot.
Florida Hometown Democracy Inc. and Lesley Gay Blackner of Palm Beach contend that Hood did not properly seek publication of notices advising voters that proposals to amend the Constitution would be on the Nov. 2 ballot. The suit filed in Leon Circuit Court also challenges a law that requires sponsors of petitions to limit their ballot proposals to 75 words. It says the ballot language for Amendment 2 does not give voters enough detail to make a decision.
Amendment 2, a legislative proposal, would require initiative campaigns to submit the required number of signatures by February. Florida Hometown Democracy has proposed an amendment that would require voters to approve future changes to comprehensive plans. The issue is not on this year's ballot but is scheduled to be argued before the Florida Supreme Court on Tuesday.
Settlement near in suit over desecrated gravesFORT LAUDERDALE - Circuit Judge J. Leonard Fleet said he would approve a $100-million settlement against two Menorah Gardens cemeteries accused of desecrating graves.
The cemeteries in Broward and Palm Beach counties had been accused of burying people in the wrong places, breaking open vaults to squeeze in other remains and, in some instances, tossing bones into the woods.