[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 45 (Thursday, March 15, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E555-E556]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       IN RECOGNITION OF THE RETIREMENT OF RONNIE AND JANIS BOND

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 15, 2007

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United States 
Congress, it is with great honor that I rise today to recognize Ronnie 
and Janis Bond for their retirement from Booker T. Washington High 
School in Pensacola, Florida.
  Ronnie and Janis Bond have dedicated their professional careers to 
Booker T. Washington High School. Ronnie has been teaching at 
Washington for 38 years, and Janis retired in 2002 after 32 years of 
teaching. They worked everyday to challenge their students both in and 
out of the classroom. Ronnie served as an assistant coach for the 
football program for twenty-seven years, and Janis coached cross-
country for five years. Together they have coached track and field for 
sixteen years and girl's basketball for the past thirty-two years.
  When the State of Florida officially recognized girl's basketball as 
a high school sport in 1975, Ronnie and Janis truly made a home for 
themselves and began to develop what has become the best girl's 
basketball program in the state. They have devoted themselves to the 
players, and in return, the talented student athletes have made many 
tremendous achievements over the years. Under the leadership of Ronnie 
and Janis, the Washington

[[Page E556]]

girl's basketball teams have won twenty-four district championships, 
four state championships, and were runner-up finishers for the state 
championship four additional times.
  Reaching 700 career wins was a milestone in itself, so it was with 
even more excitement that Ronnie and Janis reached their 722nd career 
win on January 20, 2007. This victory carried a unique significance as 
the Bond's entered the Florida record books as having the most wins of 
any high school girl's basketball coaches in the State of Florida.
  Their winning basketball program has been founded on solid principles 
of love, family, honor, and commitment. They have taught many young 
people about teamwork, the power of a shared vision, and one way to 
achieve success is to expect excellence.
  It will be difficult to find two people more committed to helping 
students than Ronnie and Janis Bond. They have set a high standard in 
their dedication to their work and devotion to their students. A 
benchmark has been established for all other high school coaches. 
Teachers and coaches serve as role models for students, and the Bond's 
have without a doubt been a great role model for those who have played 
for them. They are sure to remain in the Florida record books for years 
to come.
  Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I would like 
to congratulate Ronnie and Janis Bond for their efforts in reaching out 
and touching the lives of thousands of our nation's young people.

                          ____________________