[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 39 (Thursday, February 27, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E170-E171]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN MEMORY OF MR. BOBBY BEAGLES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANIEL WEBSTER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 27, 2025

  Mr. WEBSTER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize the 
life of my good friend, Mr. Bobby Beagles, who passed away on February 
16, 2025, and is survived by his loving wife, Vickie, son, Thomas, 
daughter, Rachel, and his five grandchildren. Bobby was a loyal friend 
of mine for almost 60 years who dedicated his life to advocating for 
Florida's agriculture industry. Born on April 6, 1942, in Samson, 
Alabama, Bobby later moved to Florida, where we shared an alma mater, 
Maynard Evans High School, and community, Pine Hills, Florida. 
Following his graduation in 1961, Bobby began his lifetime service to 
the Central Florida community.
  Bobby first served as an area representative for the Communications 
Workers of America for over 20 years. Representing an area of Florida 
that stretched from Jacksonville to Tampa, it was through this 
opportunity that Bobby first developed his passion for the political 
arena, an opportunity he contributed to his later years of service to 
Florida's agricultuie industry.
  From 1993 to 2000, Bobby served as President, Vice President, and 
Director of the Orange County Cattlemen's Association. It was

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during this tenure that he also began serving on the Orange County 
Agricultural Advisory Board, a committee established as the voice for 
agriculture within the government of Orange County. Bobby took the lead 
on several issues but is best known for playing a vital role in the 
establishment of a vibrant agricultural education program in Orange 
County Public Schools. Thanks to his leadership, there is now an 
agriculture program in every middle and high school in Orange County, 
Florida.
  Perhaps Bobby's most well-known role was through his service to the 
Orange County Farm Bureau. Bobby served in every position within Orange 
County Bureau and holds the distinct honor of the longest serving 
President. After his service on the Board of Directors, he continued 
devoting his time to the Farm Bureau as Executive Director, a position 
he held for 38 years.
  Aside from his professional service, Bobby still devoted his time to 
growing the agriculture community within Central Florida. Through his 
cow-calf operation in Christmas, Florida that he established in 1956, 
serving in multiple capacities with the Central Florida Fair since 
1987, serving as Chairman of the Large Animal Evacuation Team to aid 
livestock during natural disasters and emergencies, and serving on the 
Orange County Public Schools Career & Technical Education Advisory 
Board from 2013 to 2022, Bobby dedicated his life to serving Central 
Florida's agriculture industry.
  Bobby was honored for his years of service by receiving many awards 
and acknowledgements including his induction into the Florida 4-H Hall 
of Fame, National FFA Honorary American Degree, Florida Farm Bureau 
Distinguished Service Award, Honorary State FFA American Degree, 
Partners in Education Award, Certificate of Appreciation for Commitment 
to Orange County Public Schools, and the Jefferson Award. There is no 
question that Bobby's commitment to agriculture was everlasting, and 
his legacy will continue to live on. It is hard to imagine Florida 
agriculture without Bobby. He embodies exactly what agricultural 
advocacy works to represent.
  Throughout his life, Bobby worked tirelessly to grow, advance, and 
defend Central Florida agriculture, especially through his commitment 
to supporting youth involved in the industry. He will forever be 
remembered as a man of honor, of humility, and as one who served his 
community with the utmost dedication. I am truly thankful for Bobby's 
friendship and service to the Central Florida community.

                          ____________________