Florida Senate - 2009                (Corrected Copy)    SR 2736
       
       
       
       By Senator Wise
       
       
       
       
       5-02448C-09                                           20092736__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution recognizing Ted M. Hires, Sr., for his
    3         valuable contributions to the residents of the City of
    4         Jacksonville and the State of Florida as an advocate
    5         of victim’s rights.
    6  
    7         WHEREAS, Ted M. Hires, Sr., was born in Jesup, Georgia,
    8  where he grew to be both ambitious and hardworking, and
    9         WHEREAS, nearly four decades ago, Ted M. Hires, Sr., moved
   10  to Jacksonville, where he became a successful businessman,
   11  working in a variety of positions for the corporate offices of
   12  Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q and owning four Sonny’s restaurants,
   13  and
   14         WHEREAS, in July 1995, following a robbery at one of his
   15  Jacksonville restaurants, in which he and his employees were
   16  held at gunpoint, Ted M. Hires, Sr., founded the Justice
   17  Coalition, and
   18         WHEREAS, with advocacy for innocent victims of violent
   19  crime as his prime objective and using his own funds, Ted M.
   20  Hires, Sr., built the Justice Coalition as an organization
   21  intent on helping to improve the criminal justice system’s
   22  service to the community, and
   23         WHEREAS, the Justice Coalition has made remarkable strides
   24  in bringing criminal justice to the forefront of public
   25  awareness and offering and participating in solutions to many
   26  problems that are inherent in the criminal justice system, and
   27         WHEREAS, in 1996, Ted M. Hires, Sr., began publication of a
   28  monthly newspaper entitled the Victims’ Advocate to inform the
   29  public about criminal justice issues and the toll that crime
   30  takes on its victims and their families, to draw attention to
   31  the need for change in the criminal laws and policies of this
   32  state, and to recognize and support efforts by members of the
   33  Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, FDLE, other law
   34  enforcement agencies and concerned citizens to reduce crime and
   35  increase public safety, and
   36         WHEREAS, never asking for any compensation for himself and
   37  refusing to seek government grants to support the work of the
   38  Justice Coalition, Ted M. Hires, Sr., was a shining example of
   39  how one person can make a significant difference in the lives of
   40  others, and
   41         WHEREAS, the passing of Ted M. Hires, Sr., on December 17,
   42  2008, leaves a void in the hearts of his family and friends and
   43  a community that is grateful for his many contributions, NOW,
   44  THEREFORE,
   45  
   46  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   47  
   48         That Ted M. Hires, Sr., is recognized for his valuable
   49  contributions to the residents of the City of Jacksonville and
   50  the State of Florida and is remembered and honored for his
   51  service to his community and his advocacy of victim’s rights.
   52         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution, with
   53  the Seal of the Senate affixed, be presented to the family of
   54  Ted M. Hires, Sr., as a tangible token of the sentiments of the
   55  Florida Senate.