Richard McMahan
Richard McMahon | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 26th district | |
| In office November 3, 1992 – November 8, 1994 | |
| Preceded by | Paul Hawkes |
| Succeeded by | Earl Ziebarth |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 24, 1932 |
| Died | January 2, 2011 (aged 78) |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Mary "Dinky" Blount |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Clemson University (B.A.) |
| Occupation | Businessman, construction |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
Years of service | 1954–1955 |
Richard A. "Dick" McMahon (March 24, 1932 – January 2, 2011) was a Democratic politician from Florida who served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 26th district from 1992 to 1994.
Early life
McMahan was born in Greenwood, South Carolina, in 1932, and attended Clemson University, graduating with his bachelor's degree in architecture in 1954. He served in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1955, and moved to Florida in 1960, where he settled in DeLand, Florida. McMahan was a businessman, and founded West Volusia Utilities,[1] which he sold to Volusia COunty in 1986.[2] In 1966, he founded a construction company that build water and wastewater treatment facilities.[1]
Florida House of Representatives
In 1992, McMahan ran for the Florida House of Representatives from the newly created 26th district, which was based in western Volusia County.[3] He won the Democratic nomination unopposed, and faced Republican George Shierling, an accountant, in the general election.[4] McMahan defeated Shierling by a narrow margin, receiving 50.3 percent of the vote to Shierling's 49.7 percent.[5] Shierling initially sought to contest the result, alleging that a computer malfunction caused some votes to be omitted from the total, but conceded when the result was finalized.[6]
McMahan ran for re-election in 1994, and was challenged by Republican Earl Ziebarth, an agricultural executive.[7] Following a contentious campaign,[8] Ziebarth defeated McMahan, winning 52 percent of the vote to his 48 percent.[9]
Post-legislative career
McMahan was appointed to the Stetson University Board of Trustees in 1994, and served until 2009, when he became trustee emeritus. He and his wife endowed the Richard and Mary McMahan Scholarship, and contributed to the construction of Mary B. McMahan Hall, which houses the School of Music.[10][11]
Death
References
- 1 2 Phelps, John B., ed. (1993). The Clerk's Manual: 1992-1994. Clerk of the Florida House of Representatives. p. 135–36.
- ↑ Davidson, Gary (August 15, 1986). "Utility Deal Moves Ahead". Daytona Beach News-Journal. p. 1D. Retrieved July 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Quintana, Craig (June 6, 1992). "DeLand businessman enters House race". Orlando Sentinel. p. D-3. Retrieved July 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Quintana, Craig (October 29, 1992). "McMahan, Shierling vow to hold the line". Orlando Sentinel. p. I-1. Retrieved July 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "November 3, 1992 General Election - State Representative District: 26". Florida Department of Elections. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
- ↑ Bruce, Billy (November 10, 1992). "GOP's Shierling denied a vote recount in House bid". Daytona Beach News-Journal. p. 3B. Retrieved July 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Briggs, Tony (April 28, 1994). "McMahan draws competition for state seat". Daytona Beach News-Journal. p. 2C. Retrieved July 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Bruce, Billy (October 14, 1994). "McMahan, Ziebarth poles apart". The Volusian. DeLand, Florida. p. 1A. Retrieved July 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "November 8, 1994 General Election - State Representative District: 26". Florida Department of Elections. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
- 1 2 Weiner, Jeff (January 5, 2011). "Richard McMahan: Dedicated to education in Volusia". Orlando Sentinel. p. B10. Retrieved July 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Stetson Receives $15.4M for Scholarships for Local Students and Funding for School of Music". Stetson Today. September 14, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
- ↑ Circelli, Deborah (January 4, 2011). "Developer, ex-legislator, philanthropist dead at 78". Daytona Beach News-Journal. p. 5C. Retrieved July 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.