4-H Leaders - Okeechobee County Extension Service - University of ...

Okeechobee County Friend of 4-H AwardThe highest honor that Okeechobee County 4-H bestows is the “Okeechobee CountyFriend of 4-H” Award. The award was first established in 1989 and continues to honorpersons or organizations that have performed exemplary service to the Okeechobee County4-H program. In the past, honorees have been individuals, families, businesses andgovernmental organizations that have gone above and beyond to provide resources, timeand expertise to the 4-Hers of Okeechobee County. Continuing in the established tradition,this year’s honorees have distinguished themselves as invaluable contributors to thesuccess of the 4-H program in Okeechobee County. This year, the Okeechobee 4-Hprogram, in conjunction with its members and volunteers, has chosen Sheriff Paul May andthe Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Department as the recipients of their greatest honor.Sheriff May has had a distinguished law enforcement career. He served with the FloridaHighway Patrol from 1969-2003, his duties/positions included: Traffic Homicide Investigator,Field Training Officer, Firearms Instructor, Aerial Law Enforcement Surveillance; SpecialResponse Team (15 years) and Sniper on Special Response Team (3 years). OkeechobeeCounty elected Sheriff May in 2004, re-elected him in 2008 and if the primary numbers areany indication will re-elect him in 2012 by a landslide. Sheriff May is involved in hiscommunity, he is a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Amara Temple of the Shrine, aswell as the Okeechobee County and Florida Cattlemen’s Associations. He serves on theOkeechobee County Executive Roundtable, Okeechobee County Community in Schools,Okeechobee County Substance Abuse Coalition and Juvenile Justice Council. Sheriff Mayis also a member of the Board of Directors of the Florida Sherriff’s Association and theFlorida Sheriff’s Youth Ranch.Sheriff Paul May and Undersheriff Noel Stephen are both fathers and grandfathers andknow the value that the people of Okeechobee place on their youth. They are willing toshare their officers and resources to protect our most valuable and precious asset, ourchildren.We are thankful to have Okeechobee County Sheriff’s deputies accompany our camps eachday. Lt. Lester Yeates, Sgt. Mark Roberts, Sgt. Keith Stripling, Dep. Rodney Rucks andDep. Dale Hardy have become an integral part of the Okeechobee County summer 4-Hcamping program, they educate as well as protect. They are also an important part of ourtraditional 4-H club program. Whether the venue is teaching shooting sports to the “SharpShooters 4-H Club” or serving as positive adult role models for the “Raising the Right 4-HClub” they are helping our youth gain the necessary life skills to make the right decisions.On behalf of the Okeechobee County 4-H Program, we sincerely appreciate all that you dofor “our” youth, thank you Sheriff May, Undersheriff Stephen, Lt. Yeates, Sgt. Roberts, Sgt.Stripling, Dep. Rucks, Dep. Hardy and the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Department. Youare truly deserving recipients of the 2012 Okeechobee County Friend of 4-H Award.