Two Injured: Man Critical, Woman Serious
By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
A man was critically injured and a woman was seriously injured in a wreck early Thursday morning, February 7.
According to a Florida Highway Patrol report, Sean P. Robinson, 36, of Madison, was traveling eastbound on Interstate 10 on the 251-exit ramp at State Road 14 in a 1995 Buick.
Robinson lost control of his car and collided with a steel guardrail. He bounced off the guardrail, crossing the exit ramp lane and struck a large pine tree on the north side of the roadway.
The car bounced off the pine tree and struck a second pine tree before coming to a final rest.
Robinson was flown by helicopter to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital in Tallahassee with critical injuries.
Robinson’s passenger, Shalonda Rowe, 20, of Madison, was taken by ambulance to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, with serious injuries.
Robinson nor Rowe were wearing their seatbelts.
FHP Trooper Tom Roderick investigated the accident, which occurred at approximately 3:45 a.m.
Jacob Bembry, editor, can be reached by email at jacob@greenepublishing.com.
Louis Thompson, Former NFCC Athletic Director, Dies
Former North Florida Junior College Athletic Director and Coach Louis Thompson died Monday, January 28, after a brief illness. A special memorial service will be held Saturday, February 9, at 4 p.m. at Grace Presbyterian Church.
Thompson joined the North Florida Junior College staff in 1959. He was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, where he participated in all high school athletics. When World War II broke out in late 1941, he was bound for basic training two days after Pearl Harbor. An ordinance instructor in the U.S. Air Force at Marshall Field, Kansas, Thompson was a member of the Second Composite Air Force track team, competing in the 440 and the half-mile runs.
After his military service, Thompson entered Kansas State University on a tennis scholarship and was first seed on the KSU tennis team. He taught classes in political science and helped coach tennis and track, graduating with honors in political science. He earned a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from KSU and began teaching at the undergraduate level in Kansas.
Thompson served as athletic director and coached basketball, cross-country, track, golf and his great love – tennis. He taught American and Russian history, economics, government and current events.
Thompson was instrumental in helping establish tennis and cross country competition at the junior college level. Highlights of his coaching career are the 1970 Division II tennis championship and assisting as coach to the North Florida Junior College Sentinel basketball team that led the nation in scoring.
Thompson retired from NFCC in 1987 and was listed in the annual NFCC catalog as professor of physical education emeritus.
In a nomination letter for the Florida Community College Athletic Hall of Fame, NFCC President Morris G. Steen, Jr. wrote, “Coach Louis Thompson came to NFJC with a strong background in tennis and a healthy passion for all sports. As our basketball and track coach during the 1960-61 season, Coach Thompson single-handedly recruited players, scheduled games… conducted practices, provided transportation… paid for away game meals out of his own pocket, managed, supervised, and coached the teams. Coach Thompson did all of this without an assistant coach.”
Fellow instructor, Joe Akerman, NFCC history instructor, described Thompson as “in every way the complete teacher.”
Thompson’s wife, the former Virginia Glotzbach of Marshall, Kansas, also was employed by NFCC and retired after 22 years of service. The Thompsons had two sons, Stewart and Andy.
Thompson, still an avid tennis player, continues to give tennis lessons to children of the area on the old NFCC tennis courts.
NFCC Announces Mildred Smith Bruner Scholarship
Former legislator Ken Smith establishes fund to honor sister
The North Florida Community College Foundation announced the establishment of the Mildred Smith Bruner Endowed Scholarship honoring charter faculty-member and administrator Mildred Bruner of Madison. Bruner’s brother, Kenneth B. Smith, businessman and former state legislator established the scholarship fund.
Bruner’s professional career spans more than forty years, beginning in 1937 in Alabama and bringing her to Madison County, Florida.
A native Alabamian, Bruner holds a B.S. from Montevallo College for Women, a master’s degree from Auburn University and a Ph. D. equivalent degree in education from Florida State University. She and her husband, Cecil Bruner, relocated to Madison, Fla. in 1945. She taught 13 years in Madison County High School and was assistant principal of the school from 1956 to 1958.
Bruner was among the founding faculty members of North Florida Junior College when it opened its doors in 1958. She taught biology, history and social science and was the first director of financial aid. She later served as college registrar, director of admissions and advisor to foreign students.
A Feb. 16, 1959 article fromThe Timuquana Trailblazer described Mildred Bruner as someone who “considers it a privilege and a challenge …bringing out the potential abilities and helping … students to attain maximum achievement.”
Upon her retirement from NFJC in 1981, she said, “I saw the need for an institution of higher education in this area. It is a dream come true. Helping to lay the groundwork was a gratifying experience. I leave with the feeling that NFJC has performed great services to the area.”
She continues to support the educational dreams of young people through an endowment gift dedicated to scholarships for Take Stock in Children students who will attend NFCC, providing a continuous source of scholarships for years to come.
Bruner takes special pride in recognizing the potential of young people and revels in the successes of her many students through the years. She has seen former students become teachers, legislators, attorneys, judges, ministers, business, military and community leaders, including current NFCC president, Morris G. Steen, Jr.
She has been active in the Madison community through the Madison County Historical Society, Madison County Memorial Hospital Pink Ladies, Madison Woman’s Club, Garden Club, Delta Kappa Gamma and the Madison Education Credit Union. She is also a dedicated member of the Madison First Baptist Church. What’s more, she has traveled extensively, including a European tour at the age of 80.
The Bruner Scholarship will be awarded annually in May to students seeking an associate in arts degree at NFCC. Students must be residents of Taylor, Madison or Jefferson counties, be full-time students and maintain a 2.5 GPA.
For more information about this or other scholarships and giving opportunities, contact Foundation Executive Director Gina Rutherford by telephone 850.973-9414 or email rutherfordg@nfcc.edu. Scholarship information is available on the NFCC website at www.nfcc.edu.
Sexual Predator Changes Address
By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
A sexual predator has changed his address.
According to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Robert Lee Baynard, 60, a 5’11” tall, 244-pound black male, has registered with a new address listed at 269 SW Sumatra, Apt. 7, in Madison.
Baynard’s former address was 345 SE Scarsdale Way in Lee.
Baynard filed the new address on Tuesday, February 5.
His qualifying offense was sexual battery by an adult on a victim under 12 years of age.
Jacob Bembry, editor, can be reached by email at jacob@greenepublishing.com.
Sex Offender Registers With New Address
By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
A registered sex offender has moved to a new address.
According to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Anthony D. McGhee, a black male, born June 29, 1968, changed his address on Friday, February 1.
McGhee’s new address is 277 SW Hall Street in Madison. His previous addess was 234 SW Adelie Trail in Madison.
McGhee stands 6’4” tall and weighs 229 pounds.
McGhee was adjudicated guilty in August 2002 on a charge of sexual battery/injury not likely. |
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