TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Governor Ron DeSantis on Tuesday announced that Tallahassee’s airport has been officially renamed Bobby Bowden-Tallahassee International Airport, honoring the legendary former Florida State Seminoles head football coach.
The designation follows the governor’s signing of Senate Bill 628, which formally renames the airport in Leon County and includes several honorary road designations across the state.
“Coach Bowden was a college football legend, and it is fitting that we honor his legacy in a way that will be seen by all who travel to and from our capital city,” DeSantis said.
The airport’s new name pays tribute to Bobby Bowden, who transformed Florida State University into a national powerhouse during his tenure from 1976 to 2009. Over 34 seasons, Bowden led the Seminoles to two national championships, 12 ACC titles, and 14 consecutive top-five finishes during the program’s dominant run in the 1990s. He retired with 377 career wins and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006.
State Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden, Bowden’s daughter, said the recognition carries special meaning for the family.
“Daddy spent so many hours in the terminals of the Tallahassee airport over his 46 years in this great city, so it feels appropriate that it now bears his name,” she said, relaying appreciation on behalf of the Bowden family.
Capital Circle Project Moves Ahead of Schedule
In addition to the airport announcement, DeSantis said the first phase of a major road project on State Road 263 (Capital Circle Southwest) has been completed a full year ahead of schedule.
The $63.5 million project widened nearly four miles of roadway from Springhill Road to Orange Avenue to six lanes, improving traffic flow and safety along one of Tallahassee’s key corridors.
The Florida Department of Transportation also confirmed that construction has begun on Phase Two of the project, which will widen an additional 2.2 miles of Capital Circle Southwest. That phase is expected to be completed by mid-2030.
Transportation Secretary Jared W. Perdue said the accelerated timeline is part of the state’s broader infrastructure push.
“Phase Two is the last piece to complete the Capital Circle loop and to seamlessly connect multiple modes of travel in Florida’s capital city,” Perdue said.
State officials credited the advancement of the second phase to the state’s Moving Florida Forward Infrastructure Initiative, which allocated funding to previously unfunded projects.
Once completed, the full project is expected to enhance regional connectivity, reduce congestion, and improve safety for commuters and businesses in the Tallahassee area.
