{{Short description|American politician}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = K. Dale Cassens | image = Portrait of Florida legislative representative K. Dale Cassens.jpg | caption = Cassens in 1976 | state_house = Florida | district = 76th | term_start = 1977 | term_end = 1978 | state_senate2 = | term2 = | district2 = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date |1935|4|8}} | birth_place = Fort Pierce, Florida, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|1987|12|17|1935|4|8}} | death_place = Fort Pierce, Florida, U.S. | party = Democratic | occupation = Citrus grower, Retailer, Wholesaler | spouse = | children = | relations = | alma_mater = University of Florida }} '''Kenneth Dale Cassens''' (April 8, 1935 – December 17, 1987) was an American politician and school board member in the state of Florida.

Cassens was born in Fort Pierce, Florida, in 1935. A citrus farmer and businessman, he is an alumnus of the University of Florida, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture in 1957.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=2899&SessionId=76|title = Site Map :: Florida House of Representatives}}</ref> He served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1977 to 1978, as a Democrat, representing the 76th district.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/FileStores/Web/HouseContent/Approved/Public%20Guide/Uploads/Documents/house_counties_final.pdf |title=Membership of the Florida House of Representatives by County, 1845-2012 |author=Ward, Robert L. / Florida House of Representatives |year=2011 |publisher= |access-date=December 11, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/fefdl/florida/House19672001.html|title=House of Representatives|publisher=|access-date=29 November 2014}}</ref>

The Dale Cassens Exceptional Students Education Center in Fort Pierce, Florida was named in his honor. DCEC is a unique school that is designed to meet the individual needs of each student. Students volunteer to attend DCEC to achieve their educational goals, to earn credits toward graduation, to learn how to manage behavior as society expects, and to pursue their life-long goals.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://schools.stlucie.k12.fl.us/dcs/about-dcec/administration/ |title=Principal's Message {{!}} Dale Cassens Education Complex |website=schools.stlucie.k12.fl.us |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412145733/https://schools.stlucie.k12.fl.us/dcs/about-dcec/administration/ |archive-date=2018-04-12}}</ref>

Dale and his brother Rudolph worked together to build a family cabin in the North Georgia mountains. Rudolph was quoted as saying that it was one of his greatest joys.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tcpalm/obituary.aspx?pid=163765147| title = Rudolph Cassens Obituary (2013) - Stuart, FL - TC Palm| website = Legacy.com}}</ref> Dale Cassens died of a heart attack in 1987. He was 52 years old.

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cassens, Dale}} Category:1987 deaths Category:1935 births Category:Democratic Party members of the Florida House of Representatives Category:20th-century members of the Florida Legislature Category:People from Fort Pierce, Florida Category:University of Florida College of Agricultural and Life Sciences alumni

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