Bob realized that he had to convince
others of his vision because even as mayor,
he could not do it alone. He saw the center
as a place where everyone could go to
see Broadway shows and other forms of
entertainment, from ballet to opera, as
well as popular acts that had nowhere to
perform in the city. He pictured people
from around the area coming to see and
experience things they had not had an
opportunity to do. He wanted children
to have a chance to pursue the arts and
develop their talents, just as athletically
inclined students could do in programs
throughout the city.
Audience members gather inside the
2,610-seat Morsani Hall during a show.
Others recognized the ingenuity of
his plan, and even though it involved
a large expenditure, Bob easily won the
1979 election and took over as mayor of
Tampa. He soon learned that converting
the idea into a reality would take a lot of
work and outside help. When he tried to
finance the project with a tax, the proposal
was soundly defeated at the polls. So in
1982 he called his friend, community
leader and Tampa Electric Company chief
executive H.L. Culbreath, and asked him
to lead a task force to help raise the funds
that would be needed. H.L. jumped in,
and they both went to work to form a
46 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018
nonprofit group to operate the center
so that it did not have to rely solely on
the local government for leadership or
funding.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner Hugh
Culverhouse started things rolling with
a $1 million donation and the Robert Jaeb
family donated $1.5 million from the 1985
sale of their convenience store empire.
Before long, the arts center hired its first
employee, Andrea Graham.
The next hurdle was the design and
placement. After undergoing many
changes and additions, the theater
complex plan was approved and built.
There were many struggles and it was
s