[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15159]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




IN RECOGNITION OF THE PASSING OF LANE GILCHRIST, MAYOR OF GULF BREEZE, 
                                FLORIDA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 15, 2009

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Lane Gilchrist, 
Mayor of Gulf Breeze, Florida, who passed away on June 12, 2009. Mayor 
Gilchrist served the people of Northwest Florida with honor and 
distinction, and I am humbled to recognize this community leader.
  Lane Gilchrist spent a lifetime serving others. After graduating from 
Auburn University in 1958, Lane joined the United States Navy. He spent 
over twenty years both on active duty and in the reserve, retiring in 
1979 as a Lieutenant Commander. He also began a career at Gulf Power, 
and quickly rose through the company to become Fuel and Environmental 
Affairs Manger. Mr. Gilchrist spent 35 years with Gulf Power, retiring 
in 1996.
  In 1982, Lane Gilchrist was elected to the City Council of Gulf 
Breeze. With a salary of only one dollar a year, the city council is 
truly a place for those who want to give back to their community. After 
serving as Mayor Pro Tem for ten years, Mr. Gilchrist became mayor in 
1992 where he remained ever since. In fact, Mayor Gilchrist was one of 
the longest serving active public officials in Florida. His dedication 
to the people of his community was superb. As mayor, Mr. Gilchrist 
guided Gulf Breeze through four devastating hurricanes-Erin and Opal in 
1995, and Ivan and Dennis in 2004 and 2005. His leadership through 
these trying times will be forever remembered by our community.
  The people of Gulf Breeze have many reasons to be proud of Lane 
Gilchrist, and I am honored to be able to recognize such a great leader 
and friend. My wife Vicki and I will keep his entire family, especially 
his wife, Suzie, and sons, Lane, Jr. and Michael, in our prayers. Mayor 
Gilchrist will be missed by all of us in Northwest Florida.

                          ____________________