Senate Bill 2656
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Florida Senate - 1998 (NP) SR 2656
By Senator Childers
1-1931A-98
1 Senate Resolution No.
2 A resolution expressing regret at the death of
3 Albert Golden, a prominent citizen of Santa
4 Rosa County.
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6 WHEREAS, the Florida Senate, with deep regret, has
7 learned of the death of Santa Rosa County pioneer Albert
8 Golden on March 27, 1998, and
9 WHEREAS, Mr. Golden was a banker, businessman, and
10 politician who dominated an economic and political era of
11 Santa Rosa County history from the 1950's to the 1990's, and
12 WHEREAS, he pulled himself up by his bootstraps, while
13 aiding others, and exhibiting profound devotion to his family,
14 NOW, THEREFORE,
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16 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
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18 That this legislative body does pause in its
19 deliberations to pay its respects to the late Albert Golden of
20 Milton, Florida, and that the Florida Senate in session
21 assembled does record this testimonial of esteem and
22 bereavement:
23 IN MEMORIAM
24 ALBERT GOLDEN
25 Albert Golden was born in Santa Rosa County in 1914 to
26 the Reverend William S. and Callie Golden. For the first 15
27 years of his life, he worked on his parents' farm; then he
28 left for Texas to seek work. Soon he returned to his native
29 Santa Rosa and the difficult years of the Great Depression. He
30 worked as a laborer building Santa Rosa County roads and
31 bridges, and he fought forest fires as a WPA worker. At the
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Florida Senate - 1998 (NP) SR 2656
1-1931A-98
1 tender age of 17, he married Jewell Frances Wells and, a few
2 years later, built a home for his wife and two young children
3 for the price of $140 in raw materials and the labor of his
4 own hands. Without having any previous experience in running a
5 gas station, he and Jewell bought and operated a station in
6 Milton, and they subsequently became the owners of companies
7 for the wholesale and retail sale of gas. During the 1950's,
8 Mr. Golden was appointed to serve the remainder of the term of
9 office of a county commissioner who had died. While completing
10 that term, he paid his salary as commissioner to the widow of
11 his predecessor. Winning reelection to the commission, he
12 served for nearly a decade and also became founder, president,
13 and chairman of the board of directors of Santa Rosa State
14 Bank and founder and president of American Security Bank.
15 Among the many tributes paid to Albert Golden upon his passing
16 was the testimonial set forth in an editorial of the Pensacola
17 News Journal, which read in part, "His determination--in
18 business, banking and politics--reflected his own humble
19 beginnings and he never lost sight of his roots." The
20 editorial further noted, "As we often say of those who appear
21 larger than life, Albert Golden put down a big footprint and
22 loomed large over northwest Florida." His devotion to his
23 family was praised by his son, State Attorney Curtis Golden,
24 who said: "He loved his family deeply. He was extremely
25 devoted to his wife. Usually he worked 16 to 18 hours a day, 6
26 days a week." A close friend commented, "I've never known
27 Albert Golden to mistreat anyone." Albert Golden was truly a
28 legendary man, in family life, in business, and in his
29 community. His larger-than-life presence will be sorely
30 missed.
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Florida Senate - 1998 (NP) SR 2656
1-1931A-98
1 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution,
2 signed by the President of the Senate, with the Seal of the
3 Senate affixed, be transmitted to Mrs. Jewell Wells Golden,
4 widow of Albert Golden, as a tangible token of the sentiments
5 expressed herein and a lasting symbol of the respect of the
6 members of the Florida Senate.
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