[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 105 (Wednesday, August 3, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 3, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                      TRIBUTE TO DONNELL BROOKINS

                                 ______


                            HON. EARL HUTTO

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, August 3, 1994

  Mr. HUTTO. Mr. Speaker, Bay County, FL, lost one of its most 
outstanding citizens and all of us lost a great friend with the passing 
of Donnell Brookins on July 27, 1994.
  Donnell, without a doubt, was one of the most beloved politicians in 
northwest Florida. He served as Bay County tax collector from 1968 
until his retirement in 1992. During this period, he was never really 
challenged and was returned to office repeatedly with only minor 
opposition one time. This was because he was a trusted public official 
who did his job and treated everyone fairly.
  I had the pleasure of knowing Donnell Brookins as a close personal 
friend several years before he was elected to office. I met him when I 
went to work for WJHG-TV on November 3, 1963, and Donnell was employed 
there as a weatherman and announcer.
  I will never forget that it was DB, as we often called Mr. Brookins, 
that first broke the news of the assassination of President John F. 
Kennedy when he interrupted his program on channel 7 with a news flash. 
Later that day, he and I did interviews on the streets of Panama City 
to get the reaction of the people to this terrible tragedy.
  Donnell's wife Norma, daughter Pam, son Gary and family, and all of 
his many friends who knew and loved him, will greatly miss him. But we 
are comforted by many fond memories.
  Honesty, integrity, trustworthiness, and many other attributes would 
fit Donnell. But, I feel the greatest thing that endeared people to him 
was his great sense of humor as well as his warm personality. Donnell 
Brookins was a devout Christian, a family man, a broadcaster, a 
patriot, and a community leader. He served us well. Though gone from 
us, he is not forgotten. Our loss is Heaven's gain.

                          ____________________