Florida Senate - 2013 (NP) SR 576
By Senator Joyner
19-00474A-13 2013576__
1 Senate Resolution
2 A resolution recognizing the love of country and
3 lifetime public service of Bill McBride, Esquire.
4
5 WHEREAS, Bill McBride was born on May 10, 1945, in
6 Belleville, Illinois, but soon moved with his family to
7 Leesburg, where he graduated from Leesburg High School, and
8 WHEREAS, after graduating from the University of Florida
9 with a bachelor of arts in English in 1967, Bill McBride went on
10 to serve from 1968 through 1971 as an infantry officer in the
11 United States Marine Corps, including a tour in Vietnam as an
12 infantry platoon commander, company commander, and combined unit
13 leader, and
14 WHEREAS, as a young soldier, Bill McBride demonstrated
15 outstanding bravery and leadership, earning recognition as the
16 1968 Leadership Honor Graduate from the United States Marine
17 Corps Basic School and as a 1969 Honor Graduate from the Army
18 Ranger School, and receiving numerous citations and awards,
19 including the Bronze Star with Combat V for valorous action, and
20 WHEREAS, in 1975, Bill McBride graduated with honors from
21 the University of Florida College of Law, where he served as a
22 member of the Florida Law Review, went on to serve as a managing
23 partner with the Holland and Knight law firm and, later, was a
24 partner with the Barnett Bolt Kirkwood Long McBride law firm,
25 and
26 WHEREAS, Bill McBride was widely recognized for his
27 benevolence, pro bono legal work, and public service in his life
28 mission to serve this state, receiving the Tree of Life Award
29 from the Jewish National Fund, the Silver Medallion Award from
30 the National Conference of Christians and Jews, the Person of
31 Vision Award from Prevent Blindness of Florida, the Dr. Martin
32 Luther King, Jr. Individual Human Rights and Community Service
33 Award, the Humanitarian Award and Citizen of the Year Award from
34 the Judeo Christian Clinic of Hillsborough County, the
35 Outstanding Citizen Award from the Hillsborough Association of
36 Retarded Citizens, the Robert Saunders Leadership Award from the
37 National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the
38 Human and Civil Rights Award from the Florida Education
39 Association, the National Pro Bono Award from the Supreme Court
40 of the United States, and numerous other recognitions, and
41 WHEREAS, renowned as a promoter for equality, Bill McBride
42 was a champion for the survivors of the Rosewood Massacre and
43 offered untold pro bono legal services to those he believed were
44 in need of, but unable to afford, legal assistance, and
45 WHEREAS, long considered one of Tampa’s favorite political
46 sons, Bill McBride will long be remembered for his exuberance,
47 vitality, and cheerfulness, but his most lasting legacies will
48 undoubtedly be his countless good deeds and his unfailing
49 commitment to help those who are unable to advocate for
50 themselves and his promotion of equal treatment under the law
51 for all people, and
52 WHEREAS, Bill McBride was a devoted husband of 25 years to
53 his wife, Alex Sink, and a loving and proud father to his
54 children, William Albert and Lexi McBride Crawford and her
55 husband, Douglas, a treasured son to Patricia Sweat, a caring
56 brother to Cheryle McBride and Paul McBride and his wife, Pat,
57 and a beloved uncle to Chris McBride, NOW, THEREFORE,
58
59 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
60
61 That Bill McBride, Esquire, is remembered for his
62 leadership and devotion to ensuring equality, freedom, and
63 justice for all Floridians through his lifelong activism and
64 steadfast campaign against social injustice, for his never
65 waning encouragement to others to strive for freedom from
66 discrimination and oppression, and, foremost, for his
67 outstanding public service.