Robert D. Moore
Born in West Palm Beach, at home, on 41st street in 1935
Family: Dad was a carpenter, Mom stayed at home and made things run. Three older brothers - Clyde, Kelly, and Elwyn. All of us attended Palm Beach High School. Clyde and Elwyn are still living and in West Palm Beach.
Remembrances of school days: We lived on Evernia Street when I started at Central Elementary where I met many of our graduating class of '53 i.e. Bobby Callaway, Peggy Patterson, Marion Ard, Lloyd McCants, Richard Welch, and Joe Eassa just to name a few.
Later our family moved to Westgate but I was allowed to continue at Central Jr. High until reaching High School.
Most of my spare time was consumed by working after school at a variety of part-time jobs so my social experience at PBHS was limited. I did attempt to play football in junior high school but found that I lacked a few key ingredients - size, speed, and desire.
Favorite teacher at PBHS was Mrs. Meyers for English. I was too scared of her not to complete all of my assignments and I finally learned that I enjoyed the class and escaped with a solid B.
After graduation I attended and graduated from Palm Beach Junior College when it was in Lake Park. It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience and I think it greatly contributed to my desire to later pursue college on a serious basis.
Military: I had joined the National Guard in 1953. After graduating from PBJC I joined the Regular Army Infantry. It was a great experience and I was very fortunate to serve without going to Korea. My assignments included Ft. Jackson, S.C. (basic training), Ft. Dix, N.J. (advanced infantry), Ft. Devens, Mass. (74th Regimental Combat Team).
Having never been north of Georgia before, I found Massachusetts a little cold as well as foreign. Grits was not on any menu and our training was for cold weather combat. The Army allowed only a few ways to be reassigned, some of them unpleasant, and one way was to volunteer for the Airborne (paratroopers). After about six weeks of waiting I was assigned to the Airborne School at Ft. Benning, Ga.
This was the highlight of my military experience. I loved it and for the first time in my life I graduated first in my class. I thought of Mrs. Meyers often, she would have been a great Airborne Instructor. As a reward, I was asked to apply to become and Airborne Instructor. Physical fitness tests, interviews with the NCO's and Officers was required. I made it and enjoyed one of the greatest experiences of my life. I came in contact with outstanding people, many of them heroes from WWII and Korea.
Unfortunately the Army thought I should go to Germany so it brought my Airborne experience to an end. The 6th Infantry was the next assignment and I would have been be back in the field again if I had not had Mrs. Sliker for typing at PBHS. I was assigned to the Officers Records Section of Headquarters, Berlin Command where I served until my enlistment was over.
Berlin made me appreciate the U.S. even more. The devastation from WWII was still in evidence everywhere. The city was occupied with the British, French, Russians, and the U.S. The "cold war" was real and very real in Berlin.
Education: After the Army I enrolled at the University of Florida and received a B.S. Degree in Economics in 1962. Later I would return to the University of Florida to get a B.S. plus graduate work in Accounting. I joined the Delta Upsilon Fraternity (later President) and was active in some campus politics.
Love and Marriage: I met Judy McLeod at UF and we were married September 1, 1962. Another great decision. In a few months we'll celebrate our 40th anniversary.
While in college I worked for my brother Clyde, who owned Moore's Super Market on Okeechobee Road. After graduation I went back to the grocery business and opened a small store in Jupiter. After four years Judy and I had three children, twins - Rob and Jeani, and Juliette.
Career: In 1966 we returned to Gainesville so that I could get a degree in Accounting. Judy was a Registered Nurse and I worked for the University.
UF Assignments: Supervising Accountant, Assistant Controller.
Board of Regents: Associate Director for Business, State University System
University of Florida: Assistant Athletic Director for Business (1973-81)
Clay Electric Cooperative: Investment Manager
Putnam County, Florida: Finance Director (1983-1995)
Putnam County Tax Collector: In 1995 I was appointed to the position of County Tax Collector by Gov. Lawton Chiles. I completed the unfinished term of the former Tax Collector who had faced a Grand Jury problem. Upon completion of the term I retired December 31, 1996.
Since that time I formed a small consulting corporation to serve small cities and counties. I have served as Acting City Manager for Bunnell, FL and for the last three years have consulted for the Clerk of Courts for Putnam County.
Judy and I have five children, eleven grandchildren and delight in seeing all of them as often as possible.
Our last adventure involved taking our boat, 30 ft. trawler, to the Chesapeake Bay last year. We spent four months on the boat and visited our daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren who live in Chesapeake Beach, MD.
Life has been good.
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