[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 25 (Thursday, February 6, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E103-E104]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       RECOGNIZING SUMTER COUNTY SHERIFF WILLIAM ``BILL'' FARMER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANIEL WEBSTER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 6, 2025

  Mr. WEBSTER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize Sumter 
County Sheriff William ``Bill'' Farmer for his extraordinary leadership 
and lifelong commitment to serving his community. This month, Sheriff 
Farmer retired after 49 years of dedicated service to the residents of 
Sumter County.
  Having first joined the Sumter County Sheriff's Office as a 
patrolman, Sheriff Farmer then became a criminal investigator, and 
Chief Deputy before being elected to Sheriff in 1996. He served as 
Sumter County's Sheriff for 7 terms totaling 28 years and the only 
Sheriff to ever run unopposed in Sumter County. Prior to joining the 
Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Farmer

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also served in the FBI and Florida Division of Corrections.
  His dedication to his community is evident in his willingness to step 
into roles outside of the Sumter County Sheriff's Office to support 
Florida's sheriffs and their projects. Sheriff Farmer served two terms 
as the Chairman of the Board of the Sheriff's Youth Ranch Board of 
Directors and was the only sheriff in the State of Florida to serve two 
consecutive terms as President of the Florida Sheriff's Association. He 
also served as the Sheriff's Association Chaplain for the last 8 years 
until his retirement. It comes as no surprise that in 2024, Sheriff 
Farmer was nominated by the Florida Sheriff's Association as Law-
Enforcement Officer of the Year.
  Additionally, Sheriff Farmer was instrumental in making advancements 
to the quality of public safety in Sumter County having built the first 
state-of-the-art communication center at the office in Wildwood, known 
as the ``William O. Bill Farmer Public Safety Center''.
  Our law enforcement officers are heroes, and Sheriff Farmer is no 
exception. He has faithfully led the Sheriff's Office with integrity 
and a servant's heart. It is impossible to fully express our gratitude 
or adequately recognize the impact he has had on our community. It is 
with deep respect that we pause today to honor his legacy of service.
  I want to extend my sincere appreciation to Sheriff Farmer who 
bravely and selflessly served Sumter County. May his character, life, 
and efforts inspire others to follow in his footsteps.

                          ____________________