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Senate Resolution

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A resolution recognizing Eugene C. Badger for his lifetime

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accomplishments in agricultural leadership and service to

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the residents of Florida.

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     WHEREAS, Eugene C. Badger was born July 30, 1928, in rural

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St. Johns County near Hastings and was raised sharing

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responsibilities on his family's potato farm while attending St.

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Johns County public schools, and

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     WHEREAS, his leadership qualities emerged early when he

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became an officer of the Hastings Chapter of Future Farmers of

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America, and he showed FFA Grand Champion steers in the southeast

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in 1944 and 1945, and

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     WHEREAS, working summers as a migrant farm worker in four

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states during the farm labor shortage during World War II, Mr.

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Badger graduated from Hastings High School in 1946 and then

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earned his B.S.A. degree in Agricultural Economics and Education

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at the University of Florida in 1949, then working as a teacher

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of vocational agriculture in Palatka, Florida, from 1949 to 1951,

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and

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     WHEREAS, Mr. Badger then entered military service and

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graduated from the U.S. Marine Corps's Special Basic School in

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1952, served in Japan and Korea, and received an Honorable

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Discharge as Captain, and

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     WHEREAS, in 1955 he married the former Irma McCollum and

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their marriage produced four daughters, all of whom have gone on

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to study at the University of Florida and all of whom have

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attained postgraduate degrees in various fields, and

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     WHEREAS, Mr. Badger's career has been marked by personal

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success in the area of farm bureau insurance and by significant

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service to farmers and the farm industry in Florida through

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regional and statewide organizations, and

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     WHEREAS, his many leadership roles include directing the

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Putnam-St. Johns Farm Bureau and serving on its property rights

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committee as it worked with Florida legislators; serving as

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Director of the Florida Poultry Association; serving on

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committees working to improve federal crop insurance for sweet

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corn and other crops; and serving as State Executive Director of

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the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, and

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     WHEREAS, Eugene Badger also serves on the Everglades

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Research Center Advisory Committee, the Board of Directors of the

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Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame, and the Board of Directors of

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Alpha Gamma Rho Educational Foundation, in addition to his

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participation in numerous civic and professional associations,

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NOW, THEREFORE,

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Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:

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     That the Florida Senate recognizes and honors the

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accomplishments and service of Eugene C. Badger in the vital

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fields of agriculture, agribusiness, and governmental relations

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with Florida's farmers and farm industry.

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     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution, with

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the Seal of the Senate affixed, be presented to Eugene C. Badger

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as a tangible token of the sentiments of the Florida Senate.