<strong>Okeechobee</strong> <strong>County</strong> Friend <strong>of</strong> 4-H AwardThe highest honor that <strong>Okeechobee</strong> <strong>County</strong> 4-H bestows is the “<strong>Okeechobee</strong> <strong>County</strong>Friend <strong>of</strong> 4-H” Award. The award was first established in 1989 and continues to honorpersons or organizations that have performed exemplary service to the <strong>Okeechobee</strong> <strong>County</strong>4-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 <strong>of</strong> <strong>Okeechobee</strong> <strong>County</strong>. Continuing in the established tradition,this year’s honorees have distinguished themselves as invaluable contributors to thesuccess <strong>of</strong> the 4-H program in <strong>Okeechobee</strong> <strong>County</strong>. This year, the <strong>Okeechobee</strong> 4-Hprogram, in conjunction with its members and volunteers, has chosen Sheriff Paul May andthe <strong>Okeechobee</strong> <strong>County</strong> Sheriff’s Department as the recipients <strong>of</strong> 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). <strong>Okeechobee</strong><strong>County</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong> the Masonic Lodge and the Amara Temple <strong>of</strong> the Shrine, aswell as the <strong>Okeechobee</strong> <strong>County</strong> and Florida Cattlemen’s Associations. He serves on the<strong>Okeechobee</strong> <strong>County</strong> Executive Roundtable, <strong>Okeechobee</strong> <strong>County</strong> Community in Schools,<strong>Okeechobee</strong> <strong>County</strong> Substance Abuse Coalition and Juvenile Justice Council. Sheriff Mayis also a member <strong>of</strong> the Board <strong>of</strong> Directors <strong>of</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong> <strong>Okeechobee</strong> place on their youth. They are willing toshare their <strong>of</strong>ficers and resources to protect our most valuable and precious asset, ourchildren.We are thankful to have <strong>Okeechobee</strong> <strong>County</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Okeechobee</strong> <strong>County</strong> summer 4-Hcamping program, they educate as well as protect. They are also an important part <strong>of</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Okeechobee</strong> <strong>County</strong> 4-H Program, we sincerely appreciate all that you d<strong>of</strong>or “our” youth, thank you Sheriff May, Undersheriff Stephen, Lt. Yeates, Sgt. Roberts, Sgt.Stripling, Dep. Rucks, Dep. Hardy and the <strong>Okeechobee</strong> <strong>County</strong> Sheriff’s Department. Youare truly deserving recipients <strong>of</strong> the 2012 <strong>Okeechobee</strong> <strong>County</strong> Friend <strong>of</strong> 4-H Award.
The Rudy SuchelSpirit <strong>of</strong> Volunteerism AwardThis award is in memory <strong>of</strong> one <strong>of</strong> thebest volunteers <strong>Okeechobee</strong> <strong>County</strong>was ever blessed with. It is presentedto the following 4-Hers that personifythe giving spirit <strong>of</strong> our friend Rudy.Kevin HawthorneJake MenendezRance PendreyJustyn ScruggsAustyn Scruggs
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