James W. Grant
Encyclopedia
James William "Bill" Grant (born September 21, 1943) is an American
banker and former politician from Madison, Florida
.
A graduate of Florida State University
, he attended the University of Florida
for graduate studies. He represented in the U. S. Congress
from 1987 to 1991. After being elected as a Democrat from the Tallahassee-based 2nd District to succeed 12-term Democrat Don Fuqua
, he switched parties to become a Republican in 1989.
He was defeated for reelection in U.S. House election, 1990 by Douglas Peterson
, and ran unsuccessfully for the Senate
in 1992, losing to incumbent Bob Graham
.
Grant is a fifth generation Floridian whose family has lived in North Florida since before statehood. He is a former Member of the Florida State Senate and the United States Congress and his party’s nominee to the U.S. Senate. Prior to beginning his political career, he organized and ran several North Florida commercial banks and was twice elected president of the Florida Bankers Association.
After leaving politics, he organized and now serves as CEO of MK Meridian, Inc., an international conflict resolution, trade, and diplomatic advisory firm. In that capacity, he has mediated numerous sovereign and commercial conflicts across Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He helped organize the United Africa Association, a 13-nation effort for promoting pan-African self-help, free-enterprise capitalism, and democracy.
In 1997, with the assistance of the government of Egypt, he negotiated the end to the first Somali civil war and authored a draft constitutional government for that nation. He has been the senior advisor to two sovereign foreign governments and twice served as Special United States Congressional Envoy to international trouble spots.
He has also served as Executive Vice President of Worldwide Chemical, LLC, a multi-faceted chemical production facility in the former Soviet country of Ukraine, with 11,000 employees and a worldwide market.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
banker and former politician from Madison, Florida
Madison, Florida
Madison is a city in Madison County, Florida, United States. The population was 3,061 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 3,195...
.
A graduate of Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
, he attended the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
for graduate studies. He represented in the U. S. Congress
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from 1987 to 1991. After being elected as a Democrat from the Tallahassee-based 2nd District to succeed 12-term Democrat Don Fuqua
Don Fuqua
Don Fuqua is a U.S. Democratic politician.Fuqua graduated from the University of Florida in 1957. He was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives from Florida and served from January 3, 1963 to January 3, 1987.During most of his congressional career, Fuqua maintained his...
, he switched parties to become a Republican in 1989.
He was defeated for reelection in U.S. House election, 1990 by Douglas Peterson
Pete Peterson
Douglas Brian "Pete" Peterson was a U.S. Air Force pilot who spent over six years as a prisoner of the North Vietnamese Army after his plane was shot down during the Vietnam War. He returned to Hanoi in 1997 as the first United States Ambassador to Vietnam...
, and ran unsuccessfully for the Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in 1992, losing to incumbent Bob Graham
Bob Graham
Daniel Robert "Bob" Graham is an American politician. He was the 38th Governor of Florida from 1979 to 1987 and a United States Senator from that state from 1987 to 2005...
.
Grant is a fifth generation Floridian whose family has lived in North Florida since before statehood. He is a former Member of the Florida State Senate and the United States Congress and his party’s nominee to the U.S. Senate. Prior to beginning his political career, he organized and ran several North Florida commercial banks and was twice elected president of the Florida Bankers Association.
After leaving politics, he organized and now serves as CEO of MK Meridian, Inc., an international conflict resolution, trade, and diplomatic advisory firm. In that capacity, he has mediated numerous sovereign and commercial conflicts across Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He helped organize the United Africa Association, a 13-nation effort for promoting pan-African self-help, free-enterprise capitalism, and democracy.
In 1997, with the assistance of the government of Egypt, he negotiated the end to the first Somali civil war and authored a draft constitutional government for that nation. He has been the senior advisor to two sovereign foreign governments and twice served as Special United States Congressional Envoy to international trouble spots.
He has also served as Executive Vice President of Worldwide Chemical, LLC, a multi-faceted chemical production facility in the former Soviet country of Ukraine, with 11,000 employees and a worldwide market.