Bethune-Cookman University Athletics

Before embarking on her famed political career, Carrie Davis Meek was a respected women’s coach and educator.

The Florida A&M graduate coached at Bethune-Cookman from 1946-1956. Her “Kittens” were a dominant force in the Southeastern Athletic Conference, winning the 1950 conference championship.

In 1979, she was elected to serve in the Florida State House of Representatives. In 1982 Meek became the first African American woman to be elected to the Florida State Senate. During her time in the State Senate, Meek focused on issues of Education and affordable housing, including supporting a bill that led to the construction of thousands of affordable housing units.

From January 3, 1993 to January 3, 2003 Carrie Meek served as a Representative of Florida’s 17th Congressional District to the U.S. House of Representatives.  This election made her the first African American to be elected to represent Florida since Reconstruction, but she gained her seat at a difficult time for a district. badly damaged by Hurricane Andrew and needed rebuilding and infrastructure design. Meek was able to direct $100 million in federal assistance towards the rebuilding projects of Dade County while keeping focused on the issues she saw as most important: health care, housing, and education. 

In 2003 Carrie Meek ended her last term in Congress and was followed in the 17th Congressional District seat by her son, Kendrick Meek.