The late Judge Stephan P. Mickle Sr. will be honored on Sunday when a memorial bench will be dedicated to his Gainesville alma matter.
Kristen Cooper, a Girl Scout with Troop 2387 in Gainesville, is completing her Gold Award Project, which includes the memorial bench and donations to the now Lincoln Middle School, formerly Lincoln High School. Mickle graduated from Lincoln High School in 1961.
“Gainesville is a city with a long and rich history. This memorial seeks to preserve the memory of a trailblazer in the community and improve local awareness of current and future students at Lincoln Middle School along with parents, faculty, staff and the community about the history of an honorable, humble leader and servant that blazed the trail for many and changed the face of the Lincoln Estates community through his dedication to education and service to mankind,” said Cooper in an email to Mainstreet.
The dedication ceremony, which is open to the public, will take place at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 25 at Lincoln Middle School (1001 SE 12th St.).
“We know that history preserved and shared, about individuals who excelled in life achievements and contributions in their communities help encourage and inspire youth like me and others to do the same,” she said. “I am passionate about this project to educate people about someone who defied all odds and obtained an education when the chances to get one were slim, but he did it and so can we. As we know, education is a crucial component of our success.”
Mickle, who passed away on Jan. 26, 2021, was one of the first seven African American students to enroll at the University of Florida in 1962 and was the first to graduate. In 1970, he became the second African American to receive his juris doctor degree from the UF Levin College of Law and he later became the first African American to serve as county judge in Alachua County; as a circuit court judge on Florida’s Eighth Judicial Circuit; and as U.S. District Court judge for the Northern District of Florida—eventually becoming chief justice.
On Jan. 14, 2022, the Alachua County Criminal Courthouse was renamed the Judge Stephen P. Mickle, Sr. Courthouse.