| 1 | House Resolution |
| 2 | A resolution honoring Gadsden County Sheriff William A. |
| 3 | Woodham. |
| 4 |
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| 5 | WHEREAS, with a career in law enforcement dating back to |
| 6 | 1966 when he became a trooper in the Florida Highway Patrol, |
| 7 | William A. Woodham was appointed Sheriff of Gadsden County on |
| 8 | April 14, 1971, was subsequently elected to that office in 1972, |
| 9 | and has been reelected every four years since that time to |
| 10 | become the longest-serving sheriff currently in office in |
| 11 | Florida, and |
| 12 | WHEREAS, William A. Woodham was born May 20, 1941, in |
| 13 | Dothan, Alabama, received his childhood education in the public |
| 14 | schools of that city, and earned an Associate of Arts Degree |
| 15 | from Chipola Junior College and a Bachelor of Science in |
| 16 | Criminology and Corrections from Florida State University, and |
| 17 | WHEREAS, Sheriff Woodham has received numerous honors |
| 18 | during his tenure in office, including his having been named |
| 19 | Gadsden County's Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, recognized |
| 20 | by Big Bend Law Enforcement Association for "heroic actions" |
| 21 | leading to the apprehension of a kidnapper, and appointed to the |
| 22 | Florida Governor's Commission on Child Support Enforcement; and |
| 23 | he has held the elective offices of Vice President, Chairman of |
| 24 | the Board, and President of the Florida Sheriff's Association, |
| 25 | and |
| 26 | WHEREAS, Sheriff Woodham, recently recognized by his peers |
| 27 | as "Dean of Florida Sheriffs" in acknowledgment of his having |
| 28 | served the greatest number of years in office among currently |
| 29 | serving sheriffs, has chosen to retire in November 2004 after |
| 30 | more than 33 years as Sheriff of Gadsden County, and |
| 31 | WHEREAS, Sheriff Woodham, with his wife, Karen, and their |
| 32 | three children, has been a much respected part of the social and |
| 33 | civic affairs of the Gadsden community and has made monumental |
| 34 | contributions in the area of law enforcement in the county, NOW, |
| 35 | THEREFORE, |
| 36 |
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| 37 | Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of |
| 38 | Florida: |
| 39 |
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| 40 | That Sheriff William A. Woodham is honored for his faithful |
| 41 | service to the citizens of Gadsden County and to the State of |
| 42 | Florida, is congratulated upon his pending retirement, and is |
| 43 | wished much success and happiness during the years to come. |
| 44 | BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be |
| 45 | presented to William A. Woodham, Sheriff of Gadsden County, |
| 46 | Florida, as a tangible token of the sentiments expressed herein. |