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A ‘Grande’ Mote Marine opening

11 January 2013 Marcy Shortuse

Capt. Mark Futch, Capt. Phil O’Bannon, Andy Ireland, Judy Graham, Dr. Eugenie Clark, First Lady Laura Bush, Dr. Kumar Mahadevan, Dr. Michael Crosby and Connie Mack cutting the ribbon on the new Boca Grande Mote Marine facility. Photo by Julianne

BY MARCY SHORTUSE - When the ribbon was cut on the new Mote Marine Laboratory facility in Boca Grande on Wednesday, Jan. 9, it was the beginning of a new era ... and a time of coming full circle.

“Today is an historic day for us,” said Dr. Kumar Mahadevan, president and CEO of Mote Marine Laboratory. “Mote Marine was started a few blocks from here, in Placida Harbor.”

Dignitaries such as Former First Lady Laura Bush, former CIA Director Porter Goss, former U.S. Representative Andy Ireland, former U.S. Senator Connie Mack and several other acting legislative officials were present at the ribbon-cutting.

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