Florida Humanities hosted its first-ever Hall of Fame ceremony 10/18/2025. Legendary historian and author Gary Mormino will be the first inductee and will be celebrated, along with other Florida icons, during an award ceremony at the Tampa Bay History Center. The Florida Humanities Hall of Fame honors those who have made a significant contribution to the humanities in Florida. No matter the discipline or background, the men and women recognized in this ceremony have helped promote or preserve the Florida stories that give a better understanding of the many communities that make up the Sunshine State. During the inaugural event, friends and colleagues of Mormino will reflect on his illustrious career while also paying tribute to other Florida legends who will join him in the Hall of Fame.
 2025 Florida Humanities Hall of Fame Inductees



Gary R. Mormino – Historian, educator, author

Zora Neale Hurston – Author, anthropologist, folklorist

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings – Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist

Mary McLeod Bethune — Educator, civil rights activist

Michael V. Gannon – Historian, author

James Weldon Johnson – Author, educator, civil rights leader

David Colburn – Professor, historian

"The Florida Humanities Hall of Fame is more than a ceremony,” says Florida Humanities Executive Director Nashid Madyun. “It’s a declaration that our state’s cultural memory matters. By celebrating these legends, we ensure that Florida’s story is told with depth, dignity, and truth for generations to come."

A hero of the humanities for nearly five decades, Mormino has spent his career telling the true story of Florida. He’s written six books whose topics span from Florida immigration to 21st-century state politics. But, above all, Mormino has been a passionate educator. His commitment to uncovering Florida’s rich history led him to co-found the University of South Florida’s Florida Studies Program in 2002. Mormino’s teaching has inspired and influenced thousands of students, while his mentorship has encouraged several notable politicians, historians and writers. “I am humbled,” says Gary Mormino. “I adore Florida Humanities’ work, and I don’t think there’s another nonprofit that does such noble work.”

“Dr. Mormino is a beloved professor and lecturer, an award-winning author, a prolific newspaper columnist and the most approachable scholar I’ve ever known,” says former Florida Humanities Executive Director Steve Seibert. “He is that rare academic who sees and shares the great sweeps of history. He tells us many things we do not know and provides perspectives no one else has.”
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About Florida Humanities
Florida Humanities, the statewide, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, is dedicated to preserving, promoting, and sharing the history, literature, cultures, and personal stories that offer Floridians a better understanding of themselves, their communities, and their state. Since 1973, Florida Humanities has awarded more than $20 million in support of statewide cultural resources and public programs strongly rooted in the humanities. These programs preserve Florida’s diverse history and heritage, promote civic engagement and community dialogue, and provide opportunities to reflect on the future of Florida. Learn more at

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