[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12394]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    ON THE PASSING OF BUDDY BRACKIN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 15, 2004

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I 
rise today to recognize the passing of Newman C. ``Buddy'' Brackin. 
Buddy had a tremendous impact in my district over nearly 28 years as 
Okaloosa County Clerk of the Circuit Court.
  The son of a former Florida Senate president, Buddy came into 
politics with a solid base of knowledge. He had taught middle and high 
school in Northwest Florida and worked in real estate, but he knew it 
was time for him to run for the Okaloosa Clerk's office in 1976, and 
his win in that election reaffirmed his belief. His successive re-
election was a clear indicator that Buddy was the right man for the 
job. Indeed, it was not until his diagnosis of pancreatic cancer that 
he decided not to seek an eighth term.
  Buddy's tenure as County Clerk saw the office of the Clerk nearly 
triple in size, and with his help the office saw much-needed 
improvements in the smoothness of its day-to-day operations. It is 
doubtful that many would have disagreed with his intent six months ago 
to seek an eighth term, so respected was he on both a professional and 
personal level by all who knew him.
  My prayers go out to Buddy's wife Blanche, his sons Mark and Bryan, 
and all others who mourn the loss of a great public servant. He loved 
his family as they loved him, his loss will have a vast impact on so 
many.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, it is with no 
small amount of sorrow that I tell of the passing of Buddy Brackin from 
this world, and his family is in my thoughts and prayers.

                          ____________________