I can relate to John Richard's experience with Grace
Norton. She gave me my only F for the last 6 week period
because I missed too many classes going to FFA public speaking
contests even though the absences were excused.
Fortunately, the experience from those public speaking contests has helped
me much more than being able to solve algebra problems.
I tried to keep that in mind later on when I represented our local
School Board and Community College.
I'll always remember going to the Pompano Kiwanis Club
with the Key Club and everyone laughing when I said that I
planned to go to the University of Florida and major in Animal
Husbandry. I can only imagine what they thought that meant.
A zoology course convinced me that I would never be
a veterinarian so I switched to Ag Economics.
One of our professors influenced several of us in that department to go
to law school.
At the end of my fourth year at Florida my parents
bought a livestock auction market in Lake City which I managed
while going to law school.
Later on I was also the auctioneer
(not a very good one) .
I married Yvonne while in law school &
our daughter Barbara was born during that time.
Judy was born 4 years later.
Barbara lives in Boca Raton and Judy
lives in Lake City.
Between them and Ginger's 2 children we have
6 grandchildren.
Ginger & I married in 1984 and she has made a most
positive impact on my life.
Mostly she has shown me to be
less serious and enjoy life more.
My sisters live in Wildwood, Daytona Beach and Lake
Butler. My brother is retired in Rockwood, Tenn.
My mother died in 2003 and my father lives on the farm near Gainesville.
Except for 5 years when I had an associate I have
practiced alone in Lake City.
Originally it was a general
practice, but more recently it is mostly real estate.
With my ag background I, of course, live on a small
farm with a few cows and a horse.
Being in a small town has given me the opportunity
to be involved in activities such as Rotary, Chamber of Commerce
and Church. That resulted in the Florida Jaycees giving me
their Five Outstanding Young Men award in 1974.
In 1968 I was elected County Judge, but after one term I decided that wasn't
for me and didn't run again.
I miss not seeing classmates, Dennis and Betty Jean's
home in Sky Valley is close to our home in Highlands, N. C.
so I do get to keep up with a lot of you.
Ginger and I do look forward to seeing everyone at the 50th.
Thanks to Spencer for getting this so organized, Bruce
for the web site, Betty Jean for being Miss Dependable and to
all of you have worked so hard on this.