Rhea Chiles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rhea Chiles
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| First Lady of Florida | |
| In role January 8, 1991 – December 12, 1998 |
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| Governor | Lawton Chiles |
| Preceded by | Mary Jane Martinez |
| Succeeded by | Anne Selph MacKay |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Rhea May Grafton
December 1, 1930 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | November 8, 2015 (aged 84) Anna Maria Island, Florida, U.S. |
| Resting place | Chiles Family Estate Lakeland, Florida, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | University of Florida |
Rhea May Chiles (born Grafton; December 1, 1930 – November 8, 2015) was an important person in Florida. She was the First Lady of Florida from 1991 to 1998. Her husband, Lawton Chiles, was the Governor during that time. Rhea Chiles was known for her work to help children and for creating a special place called Florida House in Washington, D.C.
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Building Florida House: A State Embassy
Rhea Chiles led the effort to create Florida House on Capitol Hill. This special place is like an "embassy" for Florida in Washington D.C.. It is the only one of its kind for any U.S. state.
The Idea for Florida's Embassy
The idea for Florida House started in the late 1960s. Rhea and Lawton Chiles were visiting Washington D.C. with their children. They got lost and ended up on Embassy Row. One of their children asked, "Let's go to Florida's embassy!"
Rhea and Lawton explained that only foreign countries had embassies. States did not have them. But the child's idea stayed with Rhea Chiles.
Finding the Perfect Spot
In 1971, after her husband was elected to the United States Senate, Rhea Chiles was walking in Washington D.C. She saw an old house built in 1891. It was in very bad shape. The second floor had fallen in, and windows were boarded up.
Rhea remembered her child's comment about a "Florida Embassy." She decided this old house could become that special place.
Making Florida House a Reality
Rhea Chiles bought the house using $5,000 of her own money. She also raised $120,000 from friends in Florida. She wanted the address to be "Number One Second Street." So, she closed the front door and made the back door the main entrance.
She oversaw the careful repair of the 100-year-old house. This old building became the Florida House. Later, the original front door was reopened and now leads to a garden. In 1983, Rhea Chiles received an award for her leadership in restoring this historic building.
What Florida House Does Today
Florida House is a "goodwill embassy" for people from Florida. It sits on Capitol Hill, close to the U.S. Supreme Court and the Library of Congress. About 10,000 visitors come to Florida House each year.
It is filled with art and old furniture donated by Floridians. It welcomes all Floridians who visit Washington D.C. Florida House also offers learning opportunities about the U.S. government. It is run by a non-profit group and does not use state or federal tax money. Rhea Chiles was the president and CEO of Florida House from 1973 to 1988.
Helping Florida: Other Contributions
Rhea Chiles loved art and was an artist herself. In the 1960s, she helped start the Polk County Museum of Art in Lakeland, Florida. While her husband was a U.S. Senator, she led the Congressional Wives Prayer Group. She also helped organize a luncheon for First Lady Betty Ford.
Focus on Children's Health
As First Lady of Florida, Rhea Chiles made many important contributions. She focused on the health and well-being of children in the state. Her work with Governor Chiles led to the creation of The Lawton and Rhea Chiles Center. This center at the University of South Florida College of Public Health studies and improves the health of mothers and babies.
Fighting Youth Smoking
One of her biggest contributions was her vision for a youth smoking prevention program. This program came after a major legal settlement with tobacco companies. Governor and Mrs. Chiles helped create Students Working Against Tobacco, or SWAT.
SWAT was funded by the tobacco settlement. This led to a statewide student-led campaign called Truth (anti-tobacco campaign). The Truth campaign greatly reduced tobacco use among middle and high school students. It became a model for other states.
Later Life and Artistry
In 1998, Rhea Chiles started The Lawton Chiles Foundation. This foundation continues her husband's work to help children in Florida.
Artist and Author
Rhea Chiles was a talented artist. Her watercolor painting, "Window to Washington," shows the view of the Capitol from Florida House. This painting is seen as the "artistic signature" of Florida House.
Governor Chiles created the "Heartland Award for Public Service." This award was given to Floridians who showed long-term commitment to their communities. People who received this award got a painting called "Heartland" by Rhea Chiles. It showed the Myakka River in southwest Florida.
In 1997, Rhea Chiles wrote a book called "700 North Adams Street." This book, with 144 pages, explores the history of the Florida Governor's Mansion. It looks at the building's design, its rooms, and the gardens. It also shares stories about the families who lived in the mansion over the years.
Rhea Chiles passed away from a long illness at her home in Anna Maria Island, Florida at age 84.
Images for kids
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Rhea Chiles campaigning for Jim Davis in 2006
