[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 31 (Saturday, February 17, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E388-E389]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING THE RETIREMENT OF WAYNE PEACOCK

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 16, 2007

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, it is an honor for me to rise 
today to recognize the retirement of Wayne Peacock. Over the last three 
decades, Mr. Peacock dedicated his work to local government in my 
district in northwest Florida.
  After growing up in Pensacola and graduating from Pensacola High 
School, Wayne joined the United States Marine Corps. This devotion to 
country and desire to serve and help others would be a resonating theme 
throughout the rest of his life. After 4 years in the corps, he went 
back to college and received a bachelor of science degree at the 
University of West Florida.
  Mr. Peacock's first job out of college was a teacher, which helped 
fine tune his ability to guide and inspire other people. Over the next 
3 years, he worked as a counselor with several different programs under 
the Community Action Program. These programs were set up to help people 
of different ages who were unemployed or disadvantaged to join the 
workforce and set employment goals.
  Over the next several years, Wayne continued his dedicated service to 
the community. He moved up within the Community Action Program becoming 
responsible for its overall curriculum, as well as serving as liaison 
to local educational institutions, ensuring compliance with Federal 
regulations, and maintaining the program's success.
  By 1977, Wayne Peacock had already made a tremendous impact on 
thousands of lives as he helped people get back on their feet and join 
the American workforce. With his energy still full as ever and as 
others recognized his knowledge of community-based programs, he became 
an interagency coordinator for all of Escambia County--a position which 
coordinated all social service programs involving local, State, and 
Federal agencies. Wayne

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handled this increased responsibility with ease and soon he became the 
director of the Community Services Department. During his 3 years time 
in this position, he saw the department's budget increase by nearly 20 
percent and successfully supervised eight divisions within the 
department, administering programs to not only help the unemployed but 
also veterans and families.
  Wayne's vast contribution to Escambia County and his ability to 
administer so many programs at once eventually resulted in being hired 
as the Assistant County Administrator. His supervision of nearly 800 
employees was instrumental in the continued growth of a number of 
county programs--programs ranging from transportation to agriculture 
and healthcare to industrial services. It was only natural for him to 
become the County Administrator for the next 3 years. In this capacity, 
he reported directly to the Board of County Commissioners and also 
served as the Director of Emergency Management. Escambia County was in 
good hands with Wayne in this position--he knew the county inside and 
out. Even after 1991, as he became the Trial Court Administrator for 
the First Judicial Circuit of Florida, a position he holds to this day, 
Wayne's work for this area has not stopped.

  There is no question that Wayne was a civic leader for northwest 
Florida who set the bar high for those who followed. His leadership and 
knowledge has left Escambia County a better place, and his service to 
those in his community will be missed. I remain confident that Wayne's 
input will still play a great role for local leaders.
  Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, it is with 
great admiration that I recognize the retirement of Mr. Wayne Peacock. 
May his years ahead be filled with joy, and may they shine with good 
health and happiness.

                          ____________________