Editing Bob Sikes

{{Infobox Biography
| subject_name   =Robert L. F. Sikes
| image_name     =BobSikes.jpg
| image_size     =200px
| image_caption  =
| date_of_birth  =[[June 3]], [[1906]]
| place_of_birth =Isabella, Georgia
| date_of_death  =[[September 28]], [[1994]]
| place_of_death =[[North Okaloosa Medical Center]]<br/>[[Crestview, Florida]]
| occupation     =newspaper publisher, politician
| religion       =Methodist
| spouse         =Mildred Inez Tyner (1949-1983)<br/>Joan Thomas Dunning (1983-1994)
| parents        =Benjamin Franklin Sikes & Clara Ophelia Ford Sikes
| children       =Robert K. Sikes, [[Bobbye Sikes Wicke]]
}}
'''Robert Lee Fulton "Bob" Sikes''' ([[1906]]-[[1994]]), nicknamed the "'''He-Coon'''," was a United States Congressman who represented [[Florida's 1st Congressional District]]<ref name="3rd1st"/> from [[1941]] until [[1978]] and was responsible for making [[Eglin Air Force Base]] one of the largest military installations in the world.

==Early life==
Sikes was born Isabella, a small town near Sylvester in Worth County, Georgia. He graduated from public schools before attending the University of Georgia, where he received a B.S. in 1927, then went on to earn an M.S. in English from the University of Florida in 1929.

In [[1933]] Sikes began work as a newspaper editor in [[Valparaiso]]. He went on to publish a weekly newspaper, the ''[[Okaloosa News-Journal]]'', and in [[1937]] served as president of the Florida Press Association. His publishing career would last until [[1946]]. It was during this time that he held his first political office, in the Florida House of Representatives, from [[1936]] until [[1940]].

==Congressional career==
[[Image:BobSikesSpeech.jpg|thumb|right]]
[[Image:BobSikes1956.jpg|thumb|right]]
Sikes was elected to his first Congressional term in [[1940]] and was sworn in on [[January 3]], [[1941]]. He briefly resigned from office on [[October 19]], [[1944]] to serve in the U.S. Army during [[World War II]]. Following a three-month tour of Europe, he retook his Congressional seat in [[1945]]. He would rise to the Army rank of major general in the reserves.

Sikes eventually became chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, which oversaw the spending of about $3.5 billion annually. Sikes ensured that much of this money ended up in Florida — especially his district. His efforts resulted in the creation and expansion of 14 military bases in the Panhandle, including [[Eglin Air Force Base]], [[Pensacola Naval Air Station]] and [[Tyndall Field]].

Reportedly, Sikes once blocked the transfer of a 10-person unit from Florida until the Pentagon promised to replace it with a similar-sized unit.<ref name="miami">"Robert Sikes, Panhandle Political Legend." ''Miami Herald'', September 29, 1994.</ref> His efforts also led to the [[January 8]], [[1971]] authorization of the [[Gulf Islands National Seashore]]. He gained the nickname "He-Coon" for his work, a reference to [[Wikipedia:Florida cracker|Cracker]] folklore. He described the creature in his autobiography of the same name:
<blockquote>The he-coon was a kind of leader. He knew where the food was and where to get the water. He was supposed to have been able to keep off his enemies and to protect his own. He was simply supposed to look after those around him who depended upon him.</blockquote>

===Civil rights===
Sikes was a [[segregation]]ist, like most contemporary Southern politicians. During [[World War II]], he protested the fact that black soldiers were billeted alongside white soldiers at the [[Naval Air Station]] and was assured by Rear Admiral George D. Murray that "in no cases is indiscriminate mixing of these groups permitted."<ref>Gary R. Mormino. "GI Joe Meets Jim Crow: Racial Violence and Reform in World War II Florida." ''Florida Historical Quarterly'', Volume 73, Number 1, July 1994.</ref>

Sikes attempted to be receptive to all his constituents, regardless of race. [[Crestview City Council]]man [[Sam Hayes]], who helped found the local [[NAACP]] branch, said of Sikes, "No matter what your color was, he listened to you. It didn't matter how high up or how down low you might be. He was a fair man."<ref name="miami"/>

===Reprimand===
Controversy erupted when a public-affairs lobbying group accused Sikes of using his office for personal gain. He owned stock in a [[Pensacola NAS]] bank that had been established by government officials at his urging, as well as military contractor [[Fairchild Industries]], which benefitted greatly from government contracts awarded by Sikes. He failed to disclose his interest in both these companies in the requisite financial reports. On [[July 29]], [[1976]], Sikes was reprimanded by a 381-3 vote of the House of Representatives for the financial misconduct. 

In a statement released after the reprimand, Sikes said, "I had no intent to violate any rule of this House, and any inadvertent and technical violation did not benefit me in any way. All of my personal business transactions are conducted openly, in my own name and without concealment, and are simple honorable transactions."<ref name="nytobit">[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE2DE1F3AF933A0575AC0A962958260 R. L. F. Sikes, 88; Congressman Led Military Committee." ''New York Times'', September 30, 1994.</ref>

Despite the controversy, Sikes was overwhelming reelected by his district the same year, with 78% of the vote. However, on [[January 26]], [[1977]], he was removed from the Appropriations Subcommittee which he had chaired and from which he derived most of his political power. His influence diminished, Sikes decided not to seek election and left office on [[January 3]], [[1979]]. He was replaced by fellow conservative Democrat [[Earl Hutto]].

Sikes blamed his fall from power on the "flaming liberals" who opposed him in Congress, saying in a 1982 interview, "It was an inquisition. The press had fun because they love to see blood flow from a conservative, and my blood was flowing."<ref name="miami"/>

According to [[W. D. Childers]], who campaigned for the State Senate alongside Sikes, he could be a fierce polemicist to his enemies. "He would cut 'em to ribbons. People would come just to hear him talk about his opponents. … Sikes had a philosophy that he always repaid his political debts, and when he paid them back, he always added interest."<ref name="stpete">"Robert 'Bob" Sikes, former congressman." ''St. Petersburg Times'', September 29, 1994.</ref>

==Family==
[[Image:SikesSonFSUGrad.jpg|thumb|right|Sikes at his son Robert's graduation from Florida State University in 1958]]
Bob Sikes was married three times. His first marriage to his college sweetheart produced his only two children, Bobbye and Robert. She divorced him shortly after they moved to Washington. Sikes married Inez Tyner in 1949, and they were divorced in [[1983]].<ref>[http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/TYNER/2002-09/1033353069 Tyner obituary] -RootsWeb</ref> In June of the same year, at age 76, he married his third and final wife, 41-year-old Joan Thomas Dunning.

Sikes died on [[September 28]], [[1994]] after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease. He was interred at [[Liveoak Park Memorial Cemetery]].

Sikes' daughter [[Bobbye Sikes Wicke|Bobbye]] published a book in [[2005]], ''Justice Denied: The destruction of the life and legacy of the He-Coon'', which accused the widow Joan Sikes of denying him medical care and exploiting his illness to change his will in her favor. She also alleges that Joan was aided by a conspiracy involving, among others, [[Mayor of Crestview|Crestview Mayor]] [[Ted Mathis]] and State Senator [[Durell Peaden]], her father's physician at the time.<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/Justice-Denied-destruction-legacy-He-Coon/dp/0967765269 Justice Denied] at Amazon.com</ref>

==Namesakes==
The following have been named in honor of Sikes:
*[[Bob Sikes Bridge]] that connects [[Gulf Breeze]] to [[Pensacola Beach]]
*[[Bob Sikes Airport]] in Crestview
*The [[City of Crestview]]'s [[Robert L. F. Sikes Public Library]], built with gifts from Florida Du Pont head [[Ed Ball]] and defense contractors
*The [[Robert L. F. Sikes Education Center]] of [[Okaloosa-Walton College]]
*Bob Sikes Bachelor Officer's Quarters, NAS Whiting Field Milton, Fl.
*Bob Sikes Boulevard, Fort Walton Beach, Fl.

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{{succession box|before=[[Millard F. Caldwell]]|title=U.S. Congressman, [[Florida's 1st District]]<ref name="3rd1st">When Sikes was first elected, the Panhandle region was numbered as Florida's 3rd district. The number system was adjusted in [[1963]], before the [[Wikipedia:88th United States Congress|88th Congress]].</ref>|years=[[1945]]-[[1979]]|after=[[Earl Hutto]]}}
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==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Democratic politicians|Sikes, Bob]] [[Category:Methodists|Sikes, Bob]] [[Category:Newspaper executives|Sikes, Bob]] [[Category:World War II veterans|Sikes, Bob]]