Former Florida State football coach Bobby Bowden is the inaugural recipient of Florida’s Medal of Freedom
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Bobby Bowden, the former Florida State coach who led the Seminoles to two national titles, received the inaugural Florida Medal of Freedom at a ceremony Wednesday hosted by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
“I appreciate you giving me this honor. I will cherish it the rest of my life,” Bowden said after the governor and other speakers hailed him for his work not only as a coach but as a mentor to the hundreds of young men he assembled for his teams.
The state’s medal of freedom recognizes “any person who has made and especially meritorious contribution to the interest in citizens of the state and culture public and private endeavor.”
Bowden left Florida State under a cloud because of an academic cheating scandal that prompted the NCAA to strip the team of several victories.
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