Florida State University and the Claude Pepper Foundation invited the community to a special celebration marking the 125th anniversary of Senator Claude Pepper, a towering figure in Florida and national history. The celebration took place from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at the Broad Auditorium, Claude Pepper Center Building, on the FSU campus.
The commemorative event featured a keynote address by James C. Clark, senior lecturer at the University of Central Florida, along with an engaging lineup of presentations exploring Sen. Pepper’s profound influence on Florida State University, his namesake library and museum, and his enduring legacy in public service, health care, and advocacy for the elderly.
The celebration also included the first public screening of the new documentary, The Legacy of Claude Denson Pepper, which chronicled the life and work of one of the most respected voices in 20th-century American politics.
The event provided a unique opportunity to honor and reflect on Sen. Pepper’s decades of service and the values he championed, many of which continue to shape public policy and academic life at Florida State University and beyond.
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