Will Weatherford, the former Speaker of the House of the Florida Legislature, was inducted into Pasco-Hernando State College’s Legislative Hall of Fame on Sept. 20.
The ceremony was at the state college’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch in Wesley Chapel, 2727 Mansfield Blvd., according to a news release from the college.
(Courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State College)
Ed Blommel, chairman of PHSC’s District Board of Trustees, officiated over the ceremony, which included the unveiling of a plaque to be displayed in perpetuity in the Legislative Hall of Fame.
Weatherford received an identical plaque.
“We recognize Will Weatherford, who has proved to be an unwavering champion for PHSC,” Blommel said, according to the release.
“Speaker Weatherford assisted the college in getting the funding for the construction of the beautiful Porter Campus ($52.2 million), including fighting off a veto and legislative resistance to get the final installment after construction was underway and nearly complete,” he added.
Timothy Beard, the college’s president, also recognized the former speaker’s efforts to provide equity in funding for the Florida College System, leading to a $7.7 million funding increase for the college and for securing more support for PHSC from the State Board of Education.
A number of special guests were at the event, including Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, Florida College System Chancellor Madeline Pumariega, Rep. Danny Burgess, Pasco County Superintendent of Schools Kurt Browning, Pasco County School Board Member Alan Altman, Bill and J.D. Porter and Quinn Porter-Miller.
Weatherford’s induction makes him the second member of the Legislative Hall of Fame, which is a new tradition at PHSC. The honor recognizes legislators for supporting the college and higher education opportunities for their constituents.
Sen. Jack Latvala, who was inducted in July, was the first to receive the honor.
Weatherford and Latvala are both members of the inaugural class of 2016.
Published October 5, 2016
