Co-founder of the NAACP, James Weldon Johnson wrote non-fiction, poetry and operas.  He also served his country as consul in Venezuela and Nicaragua.  Birthplace: Jacksonville.
Ponce de Leon was a Spanish explorer who travelled with Columbus.  He was governor of Puerto Rico and spent much time along the Florida coastline.  Birthplace: Spain.
Chris Evert is one of the most successful women's tennis players ever.  She has won numerous tennis championships and her classic matchups with Martina Navratilova are legendary.  Birthplace: Fort Lauderdale.
A film actor and director, in 1963 Sidney Poitier became the first black man to win a best actor Oscar for his performance, in the movie "Lilies of the Field."  He has starred in many other films.  Birthplace: Miami.
Asa Philip Randolph was a foremost black leader, encouraging black membership in unions, and helping pass fair employment laws for people of all colors.  He also helped to end segregation in the armed forces.  Birthplace: Crescent City.
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings wrote the famous book "The Yearling", for which she won a Pulitzer Prize in 1939.  Though born in Washington, D.C., all her works are set in Florida.  Birthplace: Washington, DC.