[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 31 (Saturday, February 17, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E393]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E393]]
 ON RECOGNIZING THE 80TH BIRTHDAY OF F. WILLARD VICKERY AND HIS IMPACT 
            ON THE SCOUTING COMMUNITY AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 16, 2007

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
80th birthday of F. Willard Vickery and his impact on the scouting 
community and Northwest Florida.
  Mr. Vick, as he is known, began his journey in scouting in 1939, 
obtaining the rank of Eagle Scout 5 years later. Ever since his 12th 
birthday in 1939, he has held the Boy Scouts of America in the highest 
regard. Because of this pivotal time in our nation's history, Mr. Vick 
served as the Scoutmaster when adult leaders were sent off for military 
service. Soon he would follow his former Scoutmasters' paths by joining 
the United States Navy upon graduating from high school, and served in 
the medical corps in Tennessee. He remained in Tennessee after the 
War's end and attended college there. It was during this time that he 
became involved once again with scouting at a local camp, and also met 
Annie, his wife of nearly 59 years.
  After graduating college, he became a full-time employee of the Boy 
Scouts of America in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This was the first of 
several scouting camps that Mr. Vick would be instrumental in having 
built throughout the South. Throughout the next decade, his career led 
him to Georgia and then Arkansas. As his professional experience grew, 
so did his reputation as a great scout leader. Mr. Vick became known as 
a leader who put passion into the development of professional young men 
through the Boy Scouts. In fact, the governor of Arkansas at the time 
was so impressed that he specifically tasked his son with learning from 
Mr. Vick.
  In the early 1960s, Mr. Vick brought his family to Pensacola, 
Florida. Soon after, he was named the Executive Scout for the Gulf 
Coast Council. During his time in this position Mr. Vick made a very 
notable hire. Roy Williams, who was hired to be the Finance Director, 
later went on to become the Chief Executive of the Boy Scouts of 
America. There is no doubt in my mind that the leadership and mentoring 
provided by Mr. Vick played an instrumental role in shaping Roy into 
the scout leader he is today.
  Roy also worked with many outside the scouting community, including 
members of First Baptist Church and Rotary International. Mr. Vick was 
a host for several foreign exchange students and also served on the 
Community Task Force addressing the problem of violence in public 
schools. Other educational work included serving as a volunteer 
drumming teacher to elementary and middle school students.
  Certainly, scouting was the mainstay through most of his life, 
eventually earning him the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. His strong 
faith, along with that of his wife Annie, helped to guide and focus men 
and women of all ages to become better people through helping 
themselves and helping others.
  Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, it is an 
honor for me to recognize F. Willard Vickery on the occasion of his 
80th birthday. His leadership through faith and good deeds to this day 
leaves an everlasting impression on those who know him.

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