[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 166 (Friday, December 21, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1991]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE OF MARY M. JOHNSON UPON HER RETIREMENT FROM 
      SERVICE AS SANTA ROSA COUNTY, FLORIDA CLERK OF CIRCUIT COURT

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                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 20, 2012

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mary M. 
Johnson on the occasion of her retirement from service as Santa Rosa 
County, Florida Clerk of Circuit Court.
  Mrs. Johnson is a native Northwest Floridian who studied at Harold 
School and Milton High School in Santa Rosa County, Florida. In 1960, 
while still a student at Milton High, Mrs. Johnson was hired to work in 
the Clerk of Court office. After graduating from high school in 1961, 
Mrs. Johnson joined the clerk's office full time. While working there, 
Mrs. Johnson married her husband, Tom, and together they raised their 
daughter, Lorinda.
  Thanks to Mrs. Johnson's acumen and work ethic, she rose through the 
ranks and quickly became an integral part of the Santa Rosa County 
Clerk of Court office. Mrs. Johnson served in various capacities for 
three separate clerks of court, before being elected as Clerk herself 
in 1994.
  Technology had changed many thing at the clerk's office by the time 
Mrs. Johnson decided to run; however, Mrs. Johnson's vast knowledge of 
procedure and her ability to lead and manage a large staff of 125 
individuals was unquestioned. The Clerk of Courts plays a vital role in 
county government, and it takes a truly committed and capable 
individual to lead the department and ensure that everything runs 
smoothly. For 18 years as Clerk of Circuit Court, and 52 total years in 
the clerk's office, Mrs. Johnson displayed the hard work, dedication 
and commitment to public service necessary to ensure that the Clerk of 
Court continued to serve the people of Santa Rosa County. All of Santa 
Rosa County thanks her for her tremendous service to her community. 
During her retirement, Mrs. Johnson hopes to spend as much time as 
possible with her two lovely grandchildren and to spend more time 
volunteering at her local church.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am privileged 
to recognize Mary M. Johnson for her outstanding public service to 
Santa Rosa County. Mrs. Johnson is a truly committed public servant and 
has played an integral role in Northwest Florida's community for more 
than 50 years. My wife Vicki and I wish her all the best in her 
retirement.

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