MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSIONER
REBECA SOSA
DISTRICT 6
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 16, 2009
MEDIA CONTACT: Ivonne Pérez-Suárez, Communications Director
305-267-6377
Miami-Dade County Commissioner Rebeca Sosa hosts street naming Ceremony in memory of Ambassador David M. Walters, former president of Miami Children’s Hospital
MIAMI, Fl – Miami-Dade County Commissioner Rebeca Sosa will host a street naming ceremony in memory of the late Ambassador David M. Walters, former president of Miami Children’s Hospital, on Friday, April 3, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. The portion of the road that leads to Miami Children’s Hospital, S.W. 62nd Avenue between Coral Way to S.W. 30th Street, will now be designated as “Ambassador David M. Walters Avenue.” “Ambassador David M. Walters has dedicated his life to serving South Florida and the United States,” said Commissioner Sosa. “This street naming is a tribute to his living legacy as a socially conscious American patriot, diplomat and family man.”
“It has been my honor to carry Ambassador Walter’s mission forward and to see him recognized for all that he did for the children of our community,” stated Lucy Morillo, President, Miami Children's Hospital Foundation. “It was my privilege to say that I knew the Ambassador personally and I can assure you that he is smiling down on us all today grateful but humbled by this recognition,” said Juan Carlos Mas, Chairman of the Board, Miami Children's Hospital.
Ambassador Walters served in the Armed Forces during World War II and was awarded the Bronze Star for Bravery in Combat. In the early 1950s, he served as the Chairman of the Florida Commission of Pilots and Port Warden of Dade County Seaport, leading a clean-up effort of the Miami River which led to the condemning of the Port of Miami, then run by the City of Miami. He recommended it be turned over to the County thus creating a new port. In 1956, Ambassador Walters was appointed as General Counsel to the Airport Authority of Dade County and Special Bond Counsel by the County Commission and helped create Miami International Airport. From 1977 to 1979, Ambassador Walters served as the President’s Personal Representative to Holy See and as Ambassador to the Vatican.
The Ambassador’s dedication to the community is most strongly reflected in Miami Children’s Hospital, for which Ambassador Walters served as a member and then president of the Board of Directors, raising funds to build the hospital and support the hospital’s goal of caring for the children of South Florida and beyond. As President of Miami Children’s Hospital Foundation, he led the way in raising $150,000,000 for the Miami Children’s Hospital Foundation to assure the hospital had the resources to continue to meet the needs of the community.
WHO: Rebeca Sosa, Miami-Dade County Commissioner – District 6
WHAT: Street Naming Ceremony in Memory of Ambassador David M. Walters
WHEN: 10:00 A.M. – Friday, April 3, 2009
WHERE: Miami Children’s Hospital SW 62nd Ave. and SW 30th St. Entrance
(by the Fountain, left hand side)
It is the policy of Miami Dade County to comply with all of the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The facility is accessible. For sign language interpreters, assistive listening devices or materials in accessible format, please call 305-267-6377 at least five days in advance.