John Anderson’s official Facebook page
Key Points
Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order Tuesday establishing John Anderson’s “Seminole Wind” as “Florida’s Anthem” and directing state officials to name the Lake Apopka North Shore wildlife drive and trail system after the late Apopka native.
Executive Order 26-222, issued Oct. 27, also directs the secretary of state to erect historical markers in Apopka recognizing Anderson’s contributions to Florida’s heritage.
The anthem designation is expressly separate from Florida’s existing statutory state anthem, “Florida, Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky.” The order does not replace “Old Folks at Home” as the state song.
Anderson, a Country Music Hall of Famer known for hits including “Swingin’” and “Straight Tequila Night,” died Oct. 21 at age 71.
The order recognizes the conservation themes in “Seminole Wind,” released in 1992, describing the song as honoring Florida’s natural environment, history and heritage.
DeSantis directed the secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection to work with the St. Johns River Water Management District to designate the North Shore attraction as the “John Anderson Wildlife Drive and Trail System.”
The city of Apopka thanked DeSantis in a Facebook post and shared the executive order.
The order takes effect immediately, although it does not specify a completion date for the naming directive or historical markers. It also encourages the incoming Legislature to codify “Seminole Wind” in Chapter 15 of Florida Statutes.