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He is currently incarcerated at the Childers served nearly three years of a 42-month prison sentence in West Palm Beach Work Release Center and is scheduled for release was released on [[June 17]], [[2009]], after which he relocated away from Pensacola. On [[June 8]], [[2010]], a federal appeals court overturned the bribery conviction, ruling that Childers' constitutional right to confront his accuser had been violated, as the defense team was not allowed to question Junior on his change of testimony.<ref>[http://www"Federal appeals court reverses Childers conviction.dc.state" ''Associated Press'', June 8, 2010.fl.us/ActiveInmates/detail.asp?Bookmark=18&From=list&SessionID=1024100380 Florida Corrections - Inmate Information Detail]</ref>
{{Infobox BiographyPolitician
| subject_name =W. D. Childers
| image_name =WDChilders.jpg
| image_size =180px200px
| image_caption =Senate portrait of Childers, circa 1976-78
| office =[[Florida Senate]]
| district =
| in_office =[[1970]]-[[2000]]
| office_2 =[[Escambia County Commission]]
| district_2 =[[Escambia County District 1|District 1]]
| in_office_2 =[[2000]]-[[2002]]
| date_of_birth =[[November 25]], [[1933]]
| place_of_birth =Crackers Neck, Florida
| date_of_death =
| place_of_death =
| occupation =Politician
| religion =
| spouse =Ruth Childers
| parents =
| children =Gail, Jeanna, Karen and Marvel
| signature =
| signaturesize =
}}
'''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]].
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]].
==Early life & education==
*Science building at [[PJC]]
*Athletics at UWF & PJC
*[[T. T. Wentworh Wentworth Museum]]
*[[Pensacola Historic District]]
*[[Naval Aviation Museum]]
