Arnett Elysus Girardeau Sr. (July 15, 1929 – October 26, 2017) was an American dentist and politician in the state of Florida.

[1] His great-uncle was Richard L. Brown, a member of the Florida Legislature during Reconstruction.

[2] He graduated from Howard University, where he earned a bachelors of science degree in 1952 and a D.D.S.

He married Matilda Carolyn Lee and the couple had two children: Arnetta and Arnett Elysus Jr.[1] The first African-American elected outside of Miami since Reconstruction, Girardueau served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1976 to 1983.

He was president pro tempore of the senate in the later years of his term.