David Graham Copeland
Class of 1903
Hometown: Bamberg, SC
- Copeland earned a Civil Engineering degree from The Citadel, and later graduated from the US Naval Academy and RPI.
- As naval officer, Copeland supervised expansion and construction of Navy bases in New Orleans and Gulfport, Mississippi in preparation for WWI. During WWI, Copeland supervised construction of seaplane bases in Ireland and radio towers in France that were said to be the tallest man made structures in the world at that time. France awarded Copeland the Chevalier of the Legion of Honor in 1921.
- In 1921, Copeland became the chief engineer on the Tamiami Trail. This amazing engineering project would link Tampa to Miami, Florida. He also laid out the town of Everglades, a wilderness that became Collier's County seat in the 1920s.
- Copeland is credited with helping to create the Everglades National Park in Florida and with promoting the adoption of soil conservation laws in Florida.
- A Collier County Commissioner for nearly 20 years, Copeland was also a member of the Florida legislature and editor of the Collier County News.
- The town of Copeland, Florida and the auditorium in The Citadel's Grimsley Hall are named in his honor.