James Searcy Farrior, better known as Jim Fair was born to a prominent Tampa family on this date. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and a decorated WWII veteran, Fair became famous for his post-Naval career. He opened a Salvation Navy in Tampa which sold novelties and other various items at discounted prices. Fair was known as the “poor man’s friend,” and an eccentric champion for the rights of those he felt were underrepresented in Florida. He often sued government institutions and public utilities companies that he felt were corrupt, as well as many other parties stating that “he never met a lawsuit he didn’t like.” He was jailed multiple times for contempt of court, stating his opinion whenever he felt it necessary. Although an outspoken opponent of the government, Fair ran unsuccessfully for many public offices, finally winning Supervisor of Elections in 1964, although he was removed from office by Governor Kirk in 1966. He moved from Hillsborough County to Tallahassee in the 1970s and continued his fight against corruption and run for public office until his death in the 1990s.