At the time that this photograph was taken, Senator Nelson was a Democratic Senator in the U.S. Senate, representing the State of Florida since 2001. Nelson originally began his political career in the Florida House of Representatives, serving from 1973 to 1979. From 1979 to 1991, he served in the U.S. House of Representatives. In January of 1986, Nelson flew on the Space Shuttle Columbia, becoming the second sitting member of the U.S. Congress to fly in space. In 1990, he retired from Congress to run for Governor of Florida, but was defeated by Lawton Chiles (1930-1998). He then served as the Florida State Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner, and Fire Marshal from 1995 to 2001, when he was elected to the U.S. Senate.]]>
Orlando Collection, Orange County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>

This interview was conducted by Mark Miller on March 28, 2014. Interview topics include Matthews' background, enlistment, training at RTC Orlando, the USS Blue Jacket, the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC), Matthews' naval career, NAWCTSD, and the Lone Sailor Memorial Project.]]>
0:01:39 Enlistment
0:03:05 Attending boot camp at Recruit Training Center Orlando
0:05:53 First impressions of and days at Naval Training Center Orlando
0:08:13 Recruits, instructors, and military leave
0:14:37 Primary responsibilities at RTC Orlando
0:16:24 USS Blue Jacket
0:18:32 Memories and proudest moment
0:20:40 The Grinder, marching, and physical fitness
0:24:30 Selecting a boot camp
0:26:34 Military leave and the Orlando area
0:28:02 Base Realignment and Closure Commission
0:32:56 Career in the Navy and the Naval Reserves
0:37:01 Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division
0:43:55 Lone Sailor Memorial Project]]>
Matthews, Robert. Interviewed by Mark Miller, March 28, 2014. Audio/video record available. Item DP0014900, UCF Community Veterans History Project, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida Libraries, Orlando, Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]> Veterans History Projects, Library of Congress.]]> Matthews, Robert. Interviewed by Mark Miller, March 28, 2014. Audio/video record available. Item DP0014900, UCF Community Veterans History Project, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida Libraries, Orlando, Florida.]]> UCF Community Veterans History Project, Orlando, Florida.]]> Lone Sailor Navy Memorial History Project Collection, UCF Community Veterans History Project Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Adobe Flash Player]]> Java]]> Adobe Acrobat Reader]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>

The original post office was housed in the Federal Building, located 44 East Central Boulevard in Downtown Orlando, Florida, from 1917 to 1941. In 1935, when James D. Beggs, Jr. became the postmaster, he began petitioning to move the post office from its Central Boulevard and Court Avenue location to a more spacious building. In 1939, St. James Catholic Church sold a plot of land of Jefferson Street for the new building. The building was designed by Louis A. Simon in the Northern Italian Palazzo Revival-style, and was constructed by J. P. Cullen & Son. The new building opened in 1941 and housed the post office, the courthouse, and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offices. The building was named an Orlando Historic Landmark in 1989. However, it was eventually sold back to the St. James Church. In 2003, the building was renovated and came under joint ownership by both the church and the federal government. Today, the building retains its post office services but also includes offices for the Catholic Diocese.]]>
Letter from James D. Beggs, Jr. to Charles O. Andrews (April 8, 1941)." RICHES of Central Florida. https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/items/show/7618.]]> Letter from Charles O. Andrews to J. D. Beggs, Jr. (April 4, 1941)." RICHES of Central Florida. https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/items/show/7612.]]> Memorandum by Judge Akerman for James D. Beggs, Jr." RICHES of Central Florida. https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/items/show/7596.]]> RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>