Name: Dawkins, Miller

Historical Note: Commissioner Miller Dawkins was born on March 10, 1925 in Ocala, Florida.  He was first elected to the City of Miami Commission in 1981 before the city had districts.  Dawkins worked with Carrie Meek, T. Willard Fair and a host of community activists. Dawkins earned degrees from Florida Memorial College and the Universtiy of North Colorado.  He was a U.S. Merchant Marine veteran.  He organized many of the Miami Dade Model City programs and was the Director of special programs for Miami-Dade Community College before beginning his political career. Dawkins was a member of Omega Psi Phi.  He pushed for the olympic size pools in Liberty City's Charles Hadley Park.  A small municipal park on eighth avenue at 47th terrace was named after him and the olympic size pool near Hadley park is named after him as well.  Commissioner Dawkins resigned in 1996 after allegations of corruption (taking $30,000 in bribes).  He began serving his 27-month sentence June 5, 1997.