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Rep. Val Demings honors Commissioner Billie Dean in US Congress

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On April 12th Representative Val Demings of the 10th District of Florida honored Commissioner Billie Dean in the US Congress by reading the following statement into the Congressional Record:

"Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of Vice Mayor Billie Dean, who will retire this month after serving the city of Apopka, Florida, for over twenty years.

Rep. Val Demings

Mr. Dean was born and raised in Clermont, Florida, across the lake from his current home. He attended Jones High School and Eustis Vocational High School and earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Florida A & M University.

Mr. Dean also served our nation with honor and courage in the United States Army. A Korean War veteran, he received a Bronze Star for valor.

After settling in Apopka—where he has lived for over 35 years—Mr. Dean became a teacher and activist. He has served as a member of the Florida League of Cities, a Board Member of the Lake Apopka Natural Gas Board, a CARET Representative for Land Grant Colleges and Universities on behalf of Florida A&M University.

He has been a role model in his community, both through his example and as a member of the 100 Black Men of Orlando, Inc., a long-term mentoring group for black children.

An active member and trustee of Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church in Orlando, he has put his faith into practice in his community.

In 1994, Mr. Dean was elected to the Apopka City Commission. In 2014, he became Vice Mayor—the honor bestowed upon the city’s longest-serving Commissioner.

Mr. Dean was an educator. He knew that education is the key to success, and worked throughout his life to ready the next generation to thrive. He married Isadora Moye Dean, and together they have five children and three grandchildren.

In Mr. Dean, our children see a model for public, civic, and community service. While Apopka will miss him as a Commissioner, I am certain that his positive influence on our community will be evident for years to come. Mr. Speaker, I offer my heartiest congratulations to Mr. Dean upon his retirement."

Representatives from Demings' office read the same statement into the record at Dean's final City Council meeting yesterday at Apopka City Hall.

Stay with The Apopka Voice for more details today and in the coming days on Dean's retirement from the City Council, as well as Mayor Joe Kilsheimer's term in office, Commissioner Diane Velazquez, the swearing-in of Mayor-Elect Bryan Nelson and Commissioners-Elect Alice Nolan and Alexander Smith.

 

 

Commissioner Billie Dean, Congressional Record, Rep. Val Demings

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