speaker, i rise today in of alachua county trail blazer. it is my home county in florida. mr. thomas coward who passed away on december 23, 2017. mr. coward was drafted into the navy in 1942, served during world war ii. after his honorable discharge, he went on to pursue higher education and graduated with his bachelors of science in social studies from lincoln university in missouri and followed it with a masters of science from tuskegee university in alabama. upon completion of his masters, he returned to his alma mater lincoln high school in gainesville to teach civics and history. his interactive style of teaching that included mock government scenarios encouraged students to get involved in government affairs. he later went on to serve as the dean of students for lincoln high school and then transferred as the dean of students to the newly opened high school in gainesville, florida, in 1971. he ended his career in the school system in the county administrator's office, having served in the alachua county school system for over 30 years. while his students remember him for