Page 190 - lake-city-florida-a-sesquicentennial-tribute-(h-morris-williams-kevin-mccarthy)-2009

Lake City, Florida: A Sesquicentennial Tribute (2009) H. Morris Williams, Dr. Kevin M. McCarthy

A local person who made an important impact on the children
of Florida was Thelma Goodbread Flanagan, a fifth-generation
Floridian from Columbia County. She graduated from Florida State
University with a bachelor of science degree in Home Economics
(1930) and a master of science degree in Education Administration
(1951). She worked as a bacteriologist with the State Board of Health,
home economist with Florida Power and Light Company, and state
welfare chief with the Works Progress Administration (WPA).

In 1943, she became the
state director of the Florida
Department of Education in charge
of establishing the School Food
Service Program and later served
as president of the American
School Food Service Association
(1949-1950) and chairman of the
Southern States Work
Conference Committee. She
helped lead the Florida Child
Nutrition Program to national
prominence for its benefits to
children.
Thelma Goodbread Flanagan
She went on leave from the
Florida Department of Education (1969 – 1971) to serve as assistant
director of the National School Food Service and Nutrition Education
Finance Project.

Among her many accomplishments: she wrote over fifty articles
and chapters in professional journals and reference books; she served
as president of both the Florida 4-H Club Council and the Florida
Dietetic Association.

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