NFCC HONORS ALUMNI AT 45TH ANNIVERSARY EVENT

It was a bright sunny day, the air was filled with music and the talk was of times past at North Florida Community College - a perfect setting for celebrating a forty-fifth birthday and paying tribute to more than two dozen alumni. Among the 28 honored were three judges, four school superintendents, two NFCC trustees, two sheriffs, two police chiefs, five school principals, business leaders, a newspaper publisher, veterinarian, state university administrator, college mathematician and a farmer.

The NFCC Jazz Ensemble entertained with spirited tunes as guests mingled under the pines and exchanged anecdotes at the Alumni Tent.

In welcoming remarks President Morris G. Steen spoke of the early years at North Florida Junior College, the merging of all-black Suwannee River Junior College and the evolution of NFCC into a thriving educational institution that serves the largest geographic area of any Florida two-year college.

Steen then introduced the Outstanding Alumni, calling each on stage and proudly reading their individual accomplishments. “All are at the top of their professions,” said Steen. “Their success reflects well on our college.” Steen also is an alumnus of the college.

Judge Wetzel Blair received his Associate in Arts from North Florida Community College and B.S. from Florida State University. He has been a Madison County Judge since 1977.
Allen Cherry graduated from North Florida Junior College in 1970 where he was a member of Phi Theta Kappa honor society. He has been Plant Manager with Dixie Packers since 1989.
Madison Police Chief Rick Davis began his 22 year law enforcement career by attending North Florida Junior College’s Police Academy in 1981. He became Madison Police Chief in 1996.
Tommy Greene entered North Florida Junior College’s first class in 1958 and served as the vice president of the NFJC student body. He founded The Madison County Carrier 1964 and operated the newspaper for 35 years.
William E. “Bubba” Greene attended North Florida Junior College and later continued the family business of farming. He also became active in the timber business.
Ray Griffin attended North Florida Junior College and a graduate of the University of Florida. He began his banking career with First Federal & Savings Bank in Perry in 1988.
Kin Johnson and Jackie Johnson are seventh generation Floridians and both products of North Florida Junior College. Together they own Johnson & Johnson, Inc. Kin is a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard and U. S. Army Reserve. Jackie has served as Mayor of Madison and is currently a Madison City Commissioner.
Dr. John Lewis attended North Florida Junior College on a President’s Scholarship and graduated summa cum laude. He graduated from the University of Florida, with a degree in Animal Science. In 1979 he received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, magna cum laude, from Auburn University. He owns the Madison Veterinary Clinic.
Lou Sirmon Miller graduated from North Florida Junior College in 1971. She has a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and a master’s degree from Nova University. She has been an educator in Madison County for 26 years serving as principal at Lee Jr. High, Madison Central, and Madison County High School for 21years.
Roy Milliron graduated from North Florida Junior College in 1961. An FSU graduate, he is the owner/broker of Milliron Reality.
Jim Stanley graduated from North Florida Junior College in 1964. He has been manager of T. J. Beggs & Co for 29 years and has served as Director of Emergency Management in Madison County for the past thirteen years.
Gene Stokes attended North Florida Junior College on a Rotary Club Scholarship and was a member of the first graduating class. He worked 31 years in education. An ordained Baptist Minister, he is currently the Director of Missions for the Middle Florida Baptist Association.
Tom Lashley played baseball for NFCC and graduated in 1987. He attended Berry College and has a Master’s Degree from Valdosta State University. A long-time educator, he has been a teacher and school administrator. Lashley is also the author of two novels - Malevolence and Disdain.
Melvin McMullen graduated from North Florida Junior College in 1971 and Florida State University in 1973. He began teaching in 1973 and held various administrative positions until 1993 when he became Principal of Branford High School until 2003.
Frank Davis completed his A.A. degree at North Florida Junior College. He graduated from Florida State University and Cumberland School of Law. He is the Pastor of Melody Christian Center in Suwannee County.
Suwannee County Sheriff Alton K. Williams earned his Associate in Arts Degree at North Florida Junior College before attending the Florida Highway Patrol Academy in 1964. He has worked 39 years in law enforcement and was elected as Sheriff in 1966 and 2000.
Clyde Cruce graduated from North Florida Junior College while on an Honors Scholarship. He was editor of The Sentinel and Student of the Year in 1973. He has a master’s degree from FSU. He has served as teacher and administrator in Madison, Taylor, and Jefferson Counties and now works as Director of Personnel and Special Programs.
Judge Stephen (Buddy) Murphy graduated from North Florida Junior College in 1969. He received a B.A. from Florida State University and his law degree from Mississippi College of Law. In 1984, he was elected County Court Judge of Taylor County and is now serving his fifth term.
Glenda Gunter Hamby of Perry is a graduate of North Florida Junior College where she was named “Student of the Year.” She has a B.A. from Valdosta State College, a master’s degree from FSU, and attended Oxford University in England. She taught school in Taylor County for 20 years and became Superintendent of Schools in 1984.
Lester Douglas Padgett is a graduate North Florida Junior College, and Valdosta State University. He received a Masters in Education Administration from FSU. He recently retired after more than 34 years with the Taylor County School System. He is serving his second term as a trustee of North Florida Community College.
Sheriff L.E. “Bummy” Williams graduated from North Florida Junior College before serving 35 years in law enforcement with the Taylor County Sheriff’s Department. He was elected as Taylor County’s Sheriff in 1996.
Perry Police Chief Wayne Putnal was among the first law enforcement students trained through an NFJC/Lake City Junior College cooperative training agreement in 1969. He has served as Perry’s Police Chief since 1985. Wayne is a Vietnam veteran.
Jane Tyree Lowe is a graduate of North Florida Junior College and Valdosta State University. She has taught school for 28 years. Ms. Lowe is currently serving a second term as a member of the NFCC Board of Trustees.
Jasper Police Chief Frank Osborn received his early law enforcement training from North Florida Junior College and Lake City Junior College. Osburn’s 27 year law enforcement career includes service as a patrolman before being appointed Chief of Jasper Police in 1979.
Ed Poppell graduated from North Florida Junior College in 1969. He received his bachelor’s degree from FSU in 1971, and master’s from the UF in 1978. He began his professional career at the University of Florida in 1971 in accounting and rose through the ranks, becoming Vice President of Finance and Administration in 2000.
Judge Augustus D. Aikens, Jr. is a 1968 graduate of North Florida Junior College. He received his law degree from FSU in 1974. He has been a Leon County Judge since 1988. He also is a Colonel in the United States Army Reserves and received the Bronze Star for his role in Operation Desert Storm.
Tom Lashley played baseball for NFCC and graduated in 1987. He attended Berry College and has a Master’s Degree from Valdosta State University. A long-time educator, he is now Assistant Principal for Curriculum at Suwannee High School. Lashley is also the author of two novels - Malevolence and Disdain.
Maury J. Blalock, Jr. graduated from Madison High School in 1960 and North Florida Junior College in 1962. He graduated from UF in 1966 with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. In 1987, he established Blalock & Associates, an engineering consulting business.
Dr. David Green, Jr. graduated from Suwannee River Community College in 1962. Green went on to earn a doctorate in mathematics from Michigan State University. He has been a college educator since the mid-60s.

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NFCC HONORS ALUMNI AT 45TH ANNIVERSARY EVENT

Judge Wetzel Blair received his Associate in Arts from North Florida Community College and B.S. from Florida State University. He has been a Madison County Judge since 1977.

Allen Cherry graduated from North Florida Junior College in 1970 where he was a member of Phi Theta Kappa honor society. He has been Plant Manager with Dixie Packers since 1989.

Madison Police Chief Rick Davis began his 22 year law enforcement career by attending North Florida Junior College’s Police Academy in 1981. He became Madison Police Chief in 1996.

Tommy Greene entered North Florida Junior College’s first class in 1958 and served as the vice president of the NFJC student body. He founded The Madison County Carrier 1964 and operated the newspaper for 35 years.

William E. “Bubba” Greene attended North Florida Junior College and later continued the family business of farming. He also became active in the timber business.

Ray Griffin attended North Florida Junior College and a graduate of the University of Florida. He began his banking career with First Federal & Savings Bank in Perry in 1988.

Roy Milliron graduated from North Florida Junior College in 1961. An FSU graduate, he is the owner/broker of Milliron Reality.

Jim Stanley graduated from North Florida Junior College in 1964. He has been manager of T. J. Beggs & Co for 29 years and has served as Director of Emergency Management in Madison County for the past thirteen years.

Gene Stokes attended North Florida Junior College on a Rotary Club Scholarship and was a member of the first graduating class. He worked 31 years in education. An ordained Baptist Minister, he is currently the Director of Missions for the Middle Florida Baptist Association.

Tom Lashley played baseball for NFCC and graduated in 1987. He attended Berry College and has a Master’s Degree from Valdosta State University. A long-time educator, he has been a teacher and school administrator. Lashley is also the author of two novels - Malevolence and Disdain.

Melvin McMullen graduated from North Florida Junior College in 1971 and Florida State University in 1973. He began teaching in 1973 and held various administrative positions until 1993 when he became Principal of Branford High School until 2003.

Frank Davis completed his A.A. degree at North Florida Junior College. He graduated from Florida State University and Cumberland School of Law. He is the Pastor of Melody Christian Center in Suwannee County.

Suwannee County Sheriff Alton K. Williams earned his Associate in Arts Degree at North Florida Junior College before attending the Florida Highway Patrol Academy in 1964. He has worked 39 years in law enforcement and was elected as Sheriff in 1966 and 2000.

Judge Stephen (Buddy) Murphy graduated from North Florida Junior College in 1969. He received a B.A. from Florida State University and his law degree from Mississippi College of Law. In 1984, he was elected County Court Judge of Taylor County and is now serving his fifth term.

Sheriff L.E. “Bummy” Williams graduated from North Florida Junior College before serving 35 years in law enforcement with the Taylor County Sheriff’s Department. He was elected as Taylor County’s Sheriff in 1996.

Perry Police Chief Wayne Putnal was among the first law enforcement students trained through an NFJC/Lake City Junior College cooperative training agreement in 1969. He has served as Perry’s Police Chief since 1985. Wayne is a Vietnam veteran.

Jane Tyree Lowe is a graduate of North Florida Junior College and Valdosta State University. She has taught school for 28 years. Ms. Lowe is currently serving a second term as a member of the NFCC Board of Trustees.

Jasper Police Chief Frank Osborn received his early law enforcement training from North Florida Junior College and Lake City Junior College. Osburn’s 27 year law enforcement career includes service as a patrolman before being appointed Chief of Jasper Police in 1979.

Judge Augustus D. Aikens, Jr. is a 1968 graduate of North Florida Junior College. He received his law degree from FSU in 1974. He has been a Leon County Judge since 1988. He also is a Colonel in the United States Army Reserves and received the Bronze Star for his role in Operation Desert Storm.

Maury J. Blalock, Jr. graduated from Madison High School in 1960 and North Florida Junior College in 1962. He graduated from UF in 1966 with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. In 1987, he established Blalock & Associates, an engineering consulting business.

Dr. David Green, Jr. graduated from Suwannee River Community College in 1962. Green went on to earn a doctorate in mathematics from Michigan State University. He has been a college educator since the mid-60s.