Their years of learning at UWF will serve as a firm foundation for meeting the challenges which a career in public service will always offer. Our leaders of tomorrow will face the daunting task of finding solutions for such challenges as our growing elderly population, the rising cost of health care, protecting our fragile environment, educating our children, training workers for the demands of the 21 st century workplace and protecting our communities from crime and drugs, among others. Doing so will not be easy. But it is the difficulty of dealing with such challenges that makes public service more rewarding. There is no idea so uplifting as the idea of service to humanity.
Public service is a noble calling.
Little did I know as a young man studying at the University of West Florida in the early 1970's that I would have the privilege later in my life to serve as a city councilman, as Mayor of Pensacola and currently as the state representative for the people of District 2. Our Sincere Thanks to Hon. Since January 1996, Hon. Buzz Ritchie has served as the Chair of the Whitman Center Advisory Board. Not only has he been able to keep the advisory board meetings productive and interesting, Buzz Ritchie has provided guidance with regard to Center programs and it was he who played a key role in restoring necessary resources for Center operations.