50 Years Honoring Bill Baggs

Friends of Cape Florida State Park invites you to a Cape Florida Fundraising Celebration: 50 Years Honoring Bill Baggs. Bill Baggs, was an American journalist and editor of the Miami News 1957-1969. He was one of a small group of Southern newspaper editors who campaigned for Civil Rights for African Americans in the 1950s and 1960s. Bill Baggs became an early opponent of the Vietnam War. Selected as editor of The Miami News in 1957. Baggs held that position until his death at age 48 of a heart attack in 1969.

He became involved in some of the biggest social issues of the era. Bill Baggs supported early pioneering conservation efforts to rescue the southeast section of Key Biscayne from overdevelopment by real estate developers. The Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park was named in his honor on land protected from development in 1969 — 50 years ago — hence the Celebration. Live music, signature cocktails, food and silent auction.