Tallahassee Airport Renamed for Coach Bobby Bowden; Trump Highway Expanded
Gov. DeSantis honors FSU coaching legend with airport renaming while quietly expanding Trump Highway designation across 124 miles of Florida roadway.
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA — Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation Tuesday officially designating Tallahassee’s airport as Bobby Bowden-Tallahassee International Airport, honoring the late Florida State University football coach who led the Seminoles for 33 seasons.
The governor held a news conference across the road from the airport, flanked by Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue, Sen. Corey Simon, R-Tallahassee, and Bowden’s daughter, state attorney Ginger Bowden Madden.
“And just think, when Florida plays in Tallahassee at Florida State, every gator fan is going to have to fly in to Bobby Bowden International Airport,” DeSantis said during the ceremony.
Honoring a Coaching Legend
Bowden coached at FSU from 1976 to 2009, compiling a record of 304 wins and 97 losses while capturing two national championships. DeSantis presented Bowden with the Florida Medal of Freedom in 2021, just months before the coach’s death.
Simon, who played under Bowden at FSU, spoke about the coach’s lasting impact. “I know many of you know that Coach Bowden lived by the moniker, ‘faith, family, and football.’ Well, as of today, we can add another F to the moniker and that’s flights,” Simon said.
“I think that logo is going to be great, and it’s going to be very recognizable for many years to come,” DeSantis said, referencing the new signage that will be installed at the Tallahassee airport.
Trump Highway Expansion Included
The legislation also contains additional honorary designations that DeSantis did not address during the airport ceremony. A 124-mile portion of roadway will be renamed after President Donald Trump, significantly expanding a four-mile stretch that received the designation last year.
The expanded Trump Highway now spans the entire length of State Road 80 from Palm Beach County to Lee County, according to the law.
Memorial for Fallen Service Members
The package includes one additional highway designation in Escambia County. A section of highway will be named Warrior Sacrifice Way, honoring three service members killed in a 2019 mass shooting at Naval Air Station Pensacola.
The fallen service members were Kaleb Watson, Mohammed Haitham, and Cameron Walters, who died during the attack at the naval installation.
