Gayle Harrell: Growing Up

Gayle Harrell was born into a military family in Nashville, Tennessee in 1943 while her father, William C. Bauer, Jr. was stationed at a rehabilitation facility in Murfreesboro, Tenn. He had been commissioned in the Army in 1936 and was called to Active Duty following his graduation from St. Johns College of Law. He served as an officer in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II and completed 28 years of service in the Army Air Corp and Air Force Reserves attaining the rank of Colonel. Her grandfather, Dr. W. Clarence Bauer, served as a First Lt. during World War I in France.

It was in that spirit of service that Gayle was raised and it provided the foundation for her life of service as devoted wife, a loving mother, a dedicated high school teacher, a successful business woman, and a committed community activist.

In that spirit of service she was elected to the Florida House of Representatives representing District 81 in 2000 and was re-elected in 2002, 2004 and 2006. She now seeks to continue that service as your Representative in the U.S. Congress.

Following World War II Gayle’s family moved to Brooklyn, New York to be closer to other family members and where her father practiced law as part of the Veteran’s Administration. In 1957 the family relocated to Sarasota, Florida where Gayle attended Brookside Junior High School and Riverview High School.

Gayle’s high school career set the stage for her future record of service to the community. She graduated with Highest Honors from Riverview High School in 1961 as part of the second graduating class at the new school. Her commitment to service was evident from the beginning when she was awarded the American Legion Award to Citizenship and was honored to be selected as an American Field Service Foreign Exchange student to study in Italy.

Following graduation, Gayle attended the University of Florida, where she majored in Spanish. She continued her commitment to public service and academic achievement at the University of Florida. She served as President of Panhellenic, Vice President of Alpha Chi Omega Sorority, Secretary of the Student Government and was involved in many other organizations.

In 1964, Gayle Harrell received a Bachelor’s Degree and graduated with Honors. She was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and Mortar Board, the women’s honorary service group and female equivalent to Florida Blue Key at that time. Gayle also was awarded the Edith B. Tigert Award as an outstanding female graduate in 1964 and was inducted into the University of Florida Hall of Fame.

Gayle married her college sweetheart, James E. Harrell, M.D. of Jacksonville, Florida, on December 27th, 1964 and moved to New Orleans where James was an Intern at Charity Hospital. Gayle worked at Oschner Clinic until James was called to active duty in the U.S. Army in June of 1965. James was stationed at Ft. Ritchie, Md. and Gayle taught Spanish at South Hagerstown High School in Hagerstown, Md. When James was deployed to Viet Nam in January of 1967, Gayle returned to Gainesville, Fl. where she began work on her Master’s Degree at the University of Florida.

Upon James’ return from Viet Nam, he began a residency program in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Shands Teaching Hospital in Gainesville, Florida. Gayle continued her studies and the young couple were blessed with the birth of two children, Stephanie and Jennifer, during these years.

The family moved to Stuart in 1971 where James began his practice in Obstetric and Gynecology. They were blessed with the birth of two additional children, James, Jr. and Melinda. Gayle earned her Masters in 1977 in Latin American Studies (History) and wrote a thesis titled “El Partido de Accion National- A Study of Intra-Party Conflict.