Editing W. D. Childers
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| − | {{Infobox | + | {{Infobox Biography |
| subject_name =W. D. Childers | | subject_name =W. D. Childers | ||
| image_name =WDChilders.jpg | | image_name =WDChilders.jpg | ||
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| image_caption =Senate portrait of Childers, circa 1976-78 | | image_caption =Senate portrait of Childers, circa 1976-78 | ||
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| date_of_birth =[[November 25]], [[1933]] | | date_of_birth =[[November 25]], [[1933]] | ||
| place_of_birth =Crackers Neck, Florida | | place_of_birth =Crackers Neck, Florida | ||
| date_of_death = | | date_of_death = | ||
| place_of_death = | | place_of_death = | ||
| − | | occupation = | + | | occupation =Politician |
| religion = | | religion = | ||
| spouse =Ruth Childers | | spouse =Ruth Childers | ||
| parents = | | parents = | ||
| children =Gail, Jeanna, Karen and Marvel | | children =Gail, Jeanna, Karen and Marvel | ||
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}} | }} | ||
'''Wyon Dale (W. D.) Childers''' (b. [[1933]]) is a former West Florida politician who served 30 years in the State Senate, from [[1970]] to [[2000]], including a stint as Senate President from 1980 to 1982 and as dean from 1988 to 2000. He earned the nickname "'''Banty Rooster'''" — after the diminutive, swaggering [[Wikipedia:Bantam (chicken)|barnyard fowl]] — and became known for his eccentric mannerisms and colorful, folksy expressions. Childers was popular in his district for the ample state funding and "turkey" projects he sent home, including $12.5 million for the [[Pensacola Civic Center]] and the [[I-110]] extension to [[Gregory Street]]. Initially a Democrat, he switched to the Republican Party in [[1995]]. | '''Wyon Dale (W. D.) Childers''' (b. [[1933]]) is a former West Florida politician who served 30 years in the State Senate, from [[1970]] to [[2000]], including a stint as Senate President from 1980 to 1982 and as dean from 1988 to 2000. He earned the nickname "'''Banty Rooster'''" — after the diminutive, swaggering [[Wikipedia:Bantam (chicken)|barnyard fowl]] — and became known for his eccentric mannerisms and colorful, folksy expressions. Childers was popular in his district for the ample state funding and "turkey" projects he sent home, including $12.5 million for the [[Pensacola Civic Center]] and the [[I-110]] extension to [[Gregory Street]]. Initially a Democrat, he switched to the Republican Party in [[1995]]. | ||
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After term limits forced him from the Florida Senate in [[2000]], Childers ran for the [[Escambia County District 1|District 1]] seat of the [[Escambia County Commission]]. He became embroiled in the [[soccer complex corruption scandal]] and was found guilty of violating the Florida [[Sunshine Law]] and of bribing Commissioner [[Willie Junior]] to help push the purchases of two properties, totaling $6.2 million, from Childers' associates [[Joe Elliott|Joe]] and [[Georgann Elliott]]. | After term limits forced him from the Florida Senate in [[2000]], Childers ran for the [[Escambia County District 1|District 1]] seat of the [[Escambia County Commission]]. He became embroiled in the [[soccer complex corruption scandal]] and was found guilty of violating the Florida [[Sunshine Law]] and of bribing Commissioner [[Willie Junior]] to help push the purchases of two properties, totaling $6.2 million, from Childers' associates [[Joe Elliott|Joe]] and [[Georgann Elliott]]. | ||
| − | + | He is currently incarcerated at the West Palm Beach Work Release Center and is scheduled for release on [[June 17]], [[2009]].<ref>[http://www.dc.state.fl.us/ActiveInmates/detail.asp?Bookmark=18&From=list&SessionID=1024100380 Florida Corrections - Inmate Information Detail]</ref> | |
==Early life & education== | ==Early life & education== | ||
| − | Born on [[November 25]], [[1933]] in [[Wright, Florida]], then known as Crackers Neck,<ref name="posterboy">[http://www.beachbrowser.com/Archives/Local-News/March-2000/Childers-Unlikely-Poster-Boy-for-Term-Limits.htm "Childers Unlikely Poster Boy for Term Limits."] ''Associated Press'', March 4, 2000.</ref> Wyon Dale Childers attended from [[Bay County High School]] and went on to Florida State University, where he met [[Ruth Childers|Ruth Adell Johnson]]. They were married on December 21, | + | Born on [[November 25]], [[1933]] in [[Wright, Florida]], then known as Crackers Neck,<ref name="posterboy">[http://www.beachbrowser.com/Archives/Local-News/March-2000/Childers-Unlikely-Poster-Boy-for-Term-Limits.htm "Childers Unlikely Poster Boy for Term Limits."] ''Associated Press'', March 4, 2000.</ref> Wyon Dale Childers attended from [[Bay County High School]] and went on to Florida State University, where he met [[Ruth Childers|Ruth Adell Johnson]]. They were married on December 21, 2953, and Childers graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in education in 1955. He became a math teacher and supplemented his salary with roofing work and door-to-door sales. He capitalized on the sale of trendy items — hula hoops in the 50s, color televisions in the 60s — and also practiced real estate. |
==Florida Senate career== | ==Florida Senate career== | ||
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Childers was for many years chair of the General Government Appropriations Committee, which established budgets for most of the state agencies. He was considered a master of so-called "turkey" projects that were tacked on to other bills and sent state funding back to his home district. Some of the local projects that benefitted from his influence included: | Childers was for many years chair of the General Government Appropriations Committee, which established budgets for most of the state agencies. He was considered a master of so-called "turkey" projects that were tacked on to other bills and sent state funding back to his home district. Some of the local projects that benefitted from his influence included: | ||
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*[[Pensacola Civic Center]] | *[[Pensacola Civic Center]] | ||
*[[I-110]] extension from [[Maxwell Street|Maxwell]]/[[Jordan Street]]s south to [[Gregory Street]] | *[[I-110]] extension from [[Maxwell Street|Maxwell]]/[[Jordan Street]]s south to [[Gregory Street]] | ||
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*Science building at [[PJC]] | *Science building at [[PJC]] | ||
*Athletics at UWF & PJC | *Athletics at UWF & PJC | ||
| − | *[[T. T. | + | *[[T. T. Wentworh Museum]] |
*[[Pensacola Historic District]] | *[[Pensacola Historic District]] | ||
*[[Naval Aviation Museum]] | *[[Naval Aviation Museum]] | ||
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{{cquote|Everybody says they want us to behave like in church. But the truth is, they like to see a good scrap. The most productive things that happened when I was in the Legislature was when we had the most fights. … If you want to make progress and make changes, you've got to get people's dander up.<ref name="year2">"W.D. shaping up for year 2." ''Pensacola News Journal'', November 18, 2001.</ref>}} | {{cquote|Everybody says they want us to behave like in church. But the truth is, they like to see a good scrap. The most productive things that happened when I was in the Legislature was when we had the most fights. … If you want to make progress and make changes, you've got to get people's dander up.<ref name="year2">"W.D. shaping up for year 2." ''Pensacola News Journal'', November 18, 2001.</ref>}} | ||
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===Term limits=== | ===Term limits=== | ||
