Who was Marjory Stoneman Douglas?

May 04, 2018

Student activism is much in the news – and especially that of students enrolled at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, site of tragic shootings in February.

Who was Douglas, and why was the school named after her?

Douglas was, in fact, a trailblazer and a passionate environmentalist whose advocacy won her the 1990 Garden Club of America Margaret Douglas Medal. She was noted for her service to the cause of environmental protection, especially the Florida Everglades. And her book, The Everglades: River of Grass, is credited with contributing significantly to public awareness of the everglades and the importance of the everglades ecosystem.

The GCA Bulletin of the time reports that Douglas, then 100 years old, received a standing ovation after she made extemporaneous acceptance remarks upon receiving the Douglas Medal at the 1990 GCA Annual Meeting in New York City.

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