Jimmy Patronis

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a true Northwest Florida institution, The Lewis Bear Company, which is celebrating 150 years of serving Northwest Florida.

For generations, the Bear family has been part of the fabric of the Panhandle. In 1876, Lewis Bear, opened a small grocery and chandlery shop on South Palafox Street. What he started 150 years ago has grown into a family business that continues to serve Northwest Florida today. That kind of longevity does not happen by accident. It takes hard work and a commitment to the community you call home.

The Lewis Bear Company has grown and changed with Northwest Florida, but it has never lost sight of its roots. Today, five generations later, the company employs hundreds of Floridians and serves thousands of businesses throughout the region.

But the Bear family's legacy is about much more than business. They have consistently given their time, resources, and energy to organizations across our community, helping make Northwest Florida a better place.

As someone who is proud to serve Northwest Florida, I know how much companies like Lewis Bear mean to our region. They are a reminder that when a family builds a business, they are not just building something for themselves, they are building something for the community and for the generations that follow.

For 150 years, the Lewis Bear Company has been a part of the story of Northwest Florida. I congratulate the Bear family and everyone who has been part of this incredible legacy on this remarkable milestone. I look forward to seeing the Lewis Bear Company continue its tradition of serving our community for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Lenny Collins, a Vietnam War veteran, Marine, husband, and devoted member of the Pensacola community.

Lenny dedicated his life to making sure the sacrifices of our veterans, and especially those who never came home, would never be forgotten. After visiting the Moving Wall in 1987, Lenny was inspired to bring a permanent memorial to Pensacola. Through years of determination, he turned that vision into Wall South in 1992, which ultimately became the Veterans Memorial Park we know today.

But Lenny did not do this alone. By his side throughout this journey was his beloved wife, Gloria. For 57 years, Lenny and Gloria shared a life dedicated not only to one another, but to their fellow veterans and the community they called home. Together, they helped build a lasting place of remembrance that has touched countless families and welcomed more than 100,000 visitors each year.

Lenny understood the weight of a name on the Wall and the pain carried by those who served in Vietnam. He took that personal experience and turned it into something meaningful for an entire community. Because of him, generations of Northwest Floridians will have a place to honor our fallen, remember their sacrifice, and teach their children that freedom is never free.

Lenny leaves behind a tremendous legacy of service, love of country, and love for his community. His impact will live on every time a veteran visits Wall South, every time a family pauses at one of the memorials, and every time a young person learns about the sacrifices made to protect our freedom.

My deepest condolences are with Gloria, their daughters, their family, and all of Lenny's friends and fellow Marines. I hope they find comfort knowing that Lenny's life made a lasting difference in the lives of so many.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Lenny Collins and remembering a Marine who spent his life ensuring that America would never forget those who gave everything for our country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a true Northwest Florida legend, Coach Mickey Lindsey, as Pace High School will dedicate its football field in his honor on Friday, September 4, 2026.

For generations of students and families in Pace, Coach Lindsey has represented far more than football and his impact reached far beyond the scoreboard.

Coach Lindsey understood that the lessons learned through athletics, hard work, and commitment could shape young people for the rest

of their lives. For the many young men who had the privilege of playing for him, he was not simply a coach. He was a mentor, a role model, and someone who believed in them.

That is why it is so fitting that Pace High School will permanently attach Coach Lindsey's name to the field where so many of those lessons were taught. Every Friday night, when students take the field and families gather in the stands, his name will serve as a reminder of the standard he set and the legacy he leaves behind.

Northwest Florida is blessed with communities that take pride in their schools, their traditions, and the people who invest in the next generation. Coach Mickey Lindsey is one of those people.

I am proud to recognize Coach Lindsey for his years of service to Pace High School, his dedication to his players and students, and the lasting mark he has made on the Pace community.

Coach Lindsey's name will now be part of Pace football history, but his greatest legacy will continue to live in the lives of the young people he helped shape.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Coach Mickey Lindsey and congratulating him on this well-deserved recognition.