Patrick D. Smith Causeway

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Formerly Cocoa Beach Causeway - the portion of State Road 520 between mile post 13.2 and mile post 15.3 which lies approximately between the West Banana River and Cape Canaveral Hospital in Brevard County is now “Patrick D. Smith Causeway.”

Patrick D. Smith was born October 8, 1927, in Mendenhall, Mississippi, graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1947, and received his M.A. in 1959. Smith worked in public relations for several colleges and universities in Mississippi and moved to Florida in 1966 to become the director of public relations at Brevard Community College, retiring in 1988. Smith has authored several books addressing various social issues that, in his words, reflect "the plight of the underdogs in life." Smith's work, “The Beginning”, highlights the struggles of poor whites and blacks in the south during the civil rights movement in the 1960’s. Smith lived among the Seminole Indian Tribe while researching his books, “Forever Island” and “Allapattah”, which highlight the Seminole Indians' struggle to cope with the modern world. Smith lived in several migrant worker camps while researching his book, “Angel City”, which focused on the virtual slavery of migrant workers. Smith was twice invited to attend Russia's writers convention and while in Russia wrote the book, “In Search of the Russian Bear”, which is an intimate glimpse into the minds and hearts of the people of Russia who lived behind the Iron Curtain. Smith honorably served his country as a merchant marine in World War II and later wrote the book, ”The Seas that Mourn”, which tells the stories of brave merchant marines who served their country during that war. Smith's other works include, “The River is Home, “Forever Island”, and “A Land Remembered”. Smith's most recent work is “The Last Ride”, which he co-wrote with Glen "Pee Wee" Mercer, about a bull rider who was paralyzed in a bull-riding accident in 1995. Throughout his world travels, Smith has always ably represented the residents of this state and Brevard County.