Florida Senate - 2015                            (NP)    SR 1674
       
       
        
       By Senator Latvala
       
       
       
       
       
       20-00693-15                                           20151674__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution expressing the heartfelt appreciation of
    3         the members of the Florida Senate to Donald Severance
    4         for his more than 15 years of service as Sergeant at
    5         Arms and nearly 40 years of total service to the
    6         Senate, and wishing Sergeant Severance and his family
    7         every happiness in his retirement.
    8  
    9         WHEREAS, Donald Severance was born on September 24, 1954,
   10  in Live Oak and is a 1972 graduate of Suwannee High School, and
   11         WHEREAS, Donald Severance attended Tallahassee Community
   12  College and the former Lively Law Enforcement Academy and
   13  received additional training in the United States Marshals
   14  Service State and Local Court program, at the noncommissioned
   15  officer’s school of the Florida National Guard, and at the Pat
   16  Thomas Law Enforcement Academy, where he was commissioned as a
   17  law enforcement officer, and
   18         WHEREAS, Donald Severance is a veteran of the First Gulf
   19  War, having served during Operation Desert Shield and Operation
   20  Desert Storm, and
   21         WHEREAS, from 1972 to 1994, Donald Severance was a member
   22  of the Florida National Guard Rifle and Pistol Team, and retired
   23  from the Florida National Guard with a record of distinguished
   24  service to the State of Florida and the United States, and,
   25         WHEREAS, Donald Severance continues his longstanding
   26  service as a member of the Florida Highway Patrol Auxiliary,
   27  where he is frequently called upon to aid his fellow citizens,
   28  and
   29         WHEREAS, Donald Severance began his distinguished service
   30  as an employee of the Florida Senate in April 1976 as Assistant
   31  Sergeant at Arms and subsequently served as an automated text
   32  editor, a support services assistant, and a senior support
   33  services assistant, and
   34         WHEREAS, in February 1998, Donald Severance was named
   35  Deputy Sergeant at Arms, serving under Sergeant at Arms Wayne W.
   36  Todd, Jr., and
   37         WHEREAS, in August 1999, Donald Severance was appointed by
   38  then-Senate President Toni Jennings as Sergeant at Arms, a
   39  position in which he has served with integrity and distinction
   40  for more than 15 years, the third-longest tenure in the history
   41  of the position, and
   42         WHEREAS, Donald Severance has honorably served under 21
   43  Senate Presidents, serving 9 as Sergeant at Arms, and
   44         WHEREAS, as Sergeant of Arms, Donald Severance has ensured
   45  the security of the chamber, committee rooms, and the gallery of
   46  the Senate and has overseen the management of the property of
   47  the Senate, and
   48         WHEREAS, Donald Severance treats everyone he meets with
   49  kindness and respect and he will be greatly missed by the
   50  members of this body and his extended Legislative family, NOW,
   51  THEREFORE,
   52  
   53  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   54  
   55         That we express the heartfelt appreciation of the members
   56  of the Florida Senate to Donald Severance for his more than 15
   57  years of service as Sergeant at Arms and nearly 40 years of
   58  total service to the Senate, and wish him, his wife, Sherry, and
   59  their daughter, Chelsey, every happiness in his retirement.
   60         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution, with
   61  the Seal of the Senate affixed, be presented to Sergeant at Arms
   62  Donald Severance as a tangible token of the sentiments of the
   63  Florida Senate.