The following is a real-time transcript taken as closed captioning during the ceremonial proceedings, and as such, may contain errors. This service is provided solely for the purpose of assisting those with disabilities and should be used for no other purpose. These are not legal documents, and may not be used as legal authority. This transcript is not an official document of the Florida Supreme Court.

Retirement of Marshal Wilson E. Barnes


MARSHAL: PLEASE RISE . HEAR YE.HEAR YE.HEAR YE.THE SUPREME COURT OF FLORIDAIS NOW IN SESSION . GOD SA VE TH ESE UNITED STATES , THE GREAT STATE OF FLORIDA AND THIS HONORA BLE COURT. LADIES AND GENTLE MEN , THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT. PLEASE BE SE ATED .

CHIEF JUSTICE: WELL , I WAS GOING TO A SK EVERYONE TO REMAIN STANDING . [LAUGHTER]

I WILL BE AT EASE , MADAM CHIEF JUSTICE.

CHIEF JUSTICE: WE HAVE A STAND IN FOR REVEREND GREEN, WHO I AM SURE IS ON HIS WAY. I WOULD ASK JUS TICE QUINCE TO H ONOR US WITH THE INVOCATION.

WOULD YOU PLEASE BOW YOUR HEADS. DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER , WE THANK FOR YOU THIS DAY ANDWE THANK YOU FOR YET ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR A LL OF US TO GATHER, AND WE THANK YOU FOR THIS SPECIAL OCCASION OF G ATHER ING IN HO NOR OF OUR DEAR FRI END , MARSHAL BARNES. WE ASK THAT THIS PROGRAM BE PLEASING IN YOUR SIGHT ANDALL WHO LOVE THE L ORD , AM EN.

CHIEF JUSTICE: NOW , MARSHAL BARNES ASKED ME WHERE HE SHOULD BE SEATED FOR TODAY'S CEREMONY, AND WE THOUGHT , SINCE WE HAVE THE PODIUM OVER HERE , THAT I THINK THAT HIS PLACE OF HONOR IS A GREAT PL AC E TO BE. WELCOME , LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. T O THE FLORIDA SUPREMECOURT. THIS IS A VERY SPECIALSESSION , AND THAN K FOR YOUBEING HERE TO HELP US CELEBRATE THE LIFE AND CAREER OF OUR DEAR FRIEND AND OUR MARSHAL , WILSON B ARNES.I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS , UNLIKE THE ARMY, FOR YOU KNOW WILSON SPE NT THE FIRSTPART OF HIS LIFE , WE DON'T HAVE MEDALS TO HONOR OUR HEROES. SO WE HONOR OUR HEROES, THEWAY WE KNOW BEST , W ITH OUR WORDS , WITH OUR THANKS , AND WITH THIS CE REMONY . BECAUSE OF WHAT MARSHAL BARNES HAS ME ANT TO US ALLOF US , THESE P AST 15 YE ARS , AND FOR S O MA NY , ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT WITNESSED THIS COURT OVER THE INTERNET , OVER THE TELEVISION , AS WELL AS IN P ERSON , WE, ALL, KNOW THAT MARSHAL BA RNES 'S VOICE HAS BECOME THE VO ICE OF THESUPREME COURT , AND WHAT A GOLDEN VOICE IT IS , AND WE KNOW , AFTER HE I S LONG GONE FROM HERE , THAT HIS VOICE , HIS GO LDEN TO NES, WILL J OIN THE GREAT BARITONES OF THIS COUNTRY , AND I THOUGHT ABOUT , YOU KNOW, W HEN WE HEAR THE "HEAR YE HEAR YE" , WE ALL KNOW THAT COURT IS IN SESSION.I WAS REMINDED BY A LAWYER THAT WOR KS FOR ME, THAT USED TO ARGUE B E FORE US, THAT THAT "HEAR YE HEAR YE , WO UL D BRING T REP IDENTIFICATION TREPIDATION TO THE LAWYERS, KNOWING THAT THE TIME OF TRUTH HAD ARRIVED. FOR US, RE ALLY, THE "HEAR YE HEAR YE " IS THE " PLAY BA LL" OF OUR SESSION, SO TODAY WE ARE GO ING TO PLAY BALL. W E ARE NOT GOI NG TO HAVE REDLIGHTS FOR ANY OF YOU , BUTEVERYONE IS GOIN G TO BE MINDFUL OF THEIR TIME, ANDWE WILL START WITH LINDAWELLS , WHO WILL TELL US ABOUT SOME OF THE EARLYYEARS OF WILSON BARNES AND SOME OF HER O WN PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS. LINDA.

IS IT WORKING? YES. OKAY .

MS. WELLS : MAY IT P L EASETHE COURT. JUSTICES , LA DIES , GENTLEMEN , ADMIRERS OF WILSON BARNE S. IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO DESCRIBE FOR YOU , WILSON 'S NEIGHBORHOOD . CHARLEY AND I ARE V ERY LUCK Y,THAT IS JUSTICE WELLS AND I, ARE VERY LU CKY TO BE RESIDENTS OF WILSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD. OUR THREE CHILDREN ARE , ALSO , AMONG THOSE LUCKY RESIDENTS , AS IS MY B ROTHER , WHO EXCHANGES BO OKS WITH WILSON QUITE FREQUENTLY . I KNO W THAT EA CH OF YOU IS A HAPPY RESIDENT AS WELL , OF WILSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD. WILSON BECAME A WARE OF NEIGHBORHOOD, WHEN HE WAS A SMALL BOY IN RICHMOND , VIRG, W HERE HE WAS BORN . THERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD , WILSON WAS KNOWN TO HISNEIGHBORS, THE ADULTS AND THE KIDS , ALL , KN EW ALL THE CHILDREN OF WILSON 'S NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY KNEW WHERE EACH OTHER WERE. THESE DAYS, WE HEAR THE T ERM "ACCOUNTABILITY CO" AS THOUGH THE CONCEPT O F BEINGHELD TO ACCOUNT IS N E W. IT IS NOT NEW. WILSON 'S N E IGHBORS KNEW WHAT WILSON WAS UP TO. WILSON'S PA RENTS KNEW WHAT WILSON WAS UP TO, AND THEY KNEW WHAT ALL OF THE OTHERKIDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WERE UP TO. AS A RES ULT, THEY WE REN'T UP TO MUCH! THAT IS WHAT WILSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD WAS ALL ABOUT. EACH WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIMSELF O R HER SELF AND THEOTHERS IN WILSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD . THE FO LKS IN WILSON 'S NEIGHBORHOOD WERE NOT VERY FAR FROM SLAVERY. WILSON'S PARENTS WERE CHILDREN BORN INTO SLAVERY. HIS M A TERNAL GRANDMOTHER WHOM WILSON KNEW , COULD NOT READ OR WRITE, B U T THE PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS WOULD MAKE VERY SURE THAT THEIR OFFSPRING WOULD READ , WRITE AND MORE. THEY WOULD WORK HA RD AND LEARN. WILSON TOOK TO HEART , WHAT HIS PARENTS AND OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD MENT ORS DEMANDED OF HIM . MARTIN LUTHER KING LATER S AID SOME THING LIKE , DON'TJUST BE THE BEST B LACK STREET SWEEPER. BE THE BEST ST REET SWEEPER . IT IS ONE OF WILSON 'S FAVORITE QUOTES FROM HIS HERO, AND IT STATES SUCCINCTLY THE KIN D OF CHARGE WILSON GOT FROM HIS NEIGHBORHOOD . EVEN IN THE SEGREGATED WORLD OF RICH MOND, THE KI DS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WERE WELL-TAUGHT BY WELL-TRAINED TEACHERS, WHOM WILSON REMEMBERS WITH PRIDE. WILSON'S NEIGHB ORHOOD EXPECTED HIM TO T AKE ADVANTAGE OF HIS EDUCATION, AND HE DID . WILSON GRADUATED FROM VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY IN 1960 , WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN BIOLOGY. HE EA RNED A MASTER'S D EGREE I NSIDE ENS ED UCATION AND UNDER INSIDE ENS IN SCIENCE EDUCATION AND A MASTERS IN PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT, AND THESE STUDIES CAME FROM THE VIRGINIA STATE FOUNDATION , BUT IMMEDI ATELY AFTER HIS 1 960 GRAD UATION FROM VIRGINIA STATE, WILSON JOINED THE ARMY . NOW , WILSON'S NEW NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE U.S. ARMY, WAS RACIALLY INTEGRATED. IN THIS NEW NEIGHBORHOOD , WILSON WAS EX PECTED TO COMMAND , AND COMMAND HE DID. WILSON WAS, NOW , INCREASINGLY IN CHARGE OF HIS NEIGHB ORHOOD. HE WAS AN OFFICER. THE BOY WHOSE NEIGHBORS HAD HELD HIM ACCOUNTABLE , NOW HELD OTHERS ACCOUNTABLE. WILSON MADE LIFELONG FRIENDSIN THE ARMY. WILSON LOST DEAR FRIENDS IN THE ARMY , INCLUDING MEN HE COMMANDED , FOR WILSON 'S NEIGHBORHOOD WAS FOR A CONSIDERABLE TIME , LO CATED IN VIET NAM. I F YOU HAD TO BE IN VIETNAM , YOU WERE SURELY FORTUNATE TO BE THERE IN WILSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD , FOR YOU HAD A JOB TO DO, AND YOU WOULD DO IT TO GETHER, WITH DIGNITY , EACH TAKING RESPONSIBILITYFOR THE OTHERS. THAT IS HOW IT WAS IN WILSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD. WILSON RETI RED FROM THE ARMY IN 1988 AS A COLONEL. IN 19 90 , WILSON CAME TO THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT AS ITS MARSHAL. T ALK ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS! WILSON TOOK ON RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SECURITY O F SEVEN JUSTICES , NOT ONE A CARBON COPY OF THE O THER. HE HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SECURITY OF THE EMPLOYEES OF THE COURT , FOR THE SECURI TY OF LITI GANTS, AND FOR THE SECU RITY OF OTHER VI SITORS T O THE COURT . WILSON , ALSO , TOOK O N RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PHYSICAL FACILITIES AT THE COURT . IN WILSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU NEED A C LEAN PLACE TO WORK, TO T HINK , TO WRITE. YOU NEED FOR THE PHONES TO WORK PROPERLY, FOR THE GARAGE DOOR TO GO UP ANDDOWN WHEN IT IS SUPPOSED TO. WILSON MADE SURE OF THAT . AS HAS BEEN TRUE WHEN HE WAS A BOY, AS HAD BEEN TRUE WHEN HE WAS A MILITARY MAN , WILSON'S WORK AT THE COURT WAS NEVER , NEVER JUST A J OB. IT WAS A WAY OF LIFE . WE CALL IT ACCOUNTABILITY . WE CALL IT BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR EACH OTHER. WE CALL IT WILSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD. EARLY ON , WILSON ANNOUNCEDTHE OPENING OF COURT WITH A L OUD INSP IRING , CLEAR VOICE , "HEAR YE , HEAR Y E , HEAR YE ". MY FATHER SO LOVE TO HEAR WILSON'S OPENING. IN FA CT E VERYONE WHO COMES TO THIS COURT LO VES TO HEAR WILSON 'S O YEZ . PRIMARILY WHEN HE CAME IN 1990, WHEN LAWYERS CAME TO ARGUE THEIR CASES , WILSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD WAS RELATIVELY SMALL BUT THAT WOULD CHA NGE. A T THAT TIME CHIL DREN WERE BEING SENT TO TALLAHASSEE BY SCHOOLS, TO SEE THE LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNOR'S MANSION. OCCASIONALLY A JUSTICE WOULD BE ASKED TO TAKE A ST UDENT GROUP ON A TO UR OF THE COURT, BUT BY 1995 WITH ENCOURAGEMENT FROM WILSON , A CROWD O F ACTIVIST VOLUNTEERS , PRIMARILY COURT SP OUSES , PREPARED MATERIALS AND ORGANIZED THE DISTANCE PROGRAM AND C REATED A CADRE OF VOLUNT EERS T O TEACH FLORIDA VISITORS ABOUT THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT AND ALL OF THE COURTS. IN TIME , STUDENTS WOULD CONDUCT MOCK ORAL AR GUMENT , AND , OF COURSE , A C O VETED ROLE IS THAT OF THE MARSHAL, WITH HIS RESOUNDING "HEAR YE , HEAR YE " . OCCASIONALLY A G R OUP WILL HEAR WILSON'S "HEAR YE " IN PERSON AND ALWAYS GET TO HEAR IT IN A VI DE O PRESENTATION. FROM TIME TO TIME WILSON RECEIVES A LETTER FROM A STUDENT OR TEACHER OR A PARENT WHO WAS DE EPLY AFFECTED BY WHO WILSON IS AND WHAT HE DOES. WILSON WAS AND IS , THE FAVORITE. S ORRY, JUSTICES , BUT WILSON IS THE FAVORITE . IN RE CENT YE AR S , WILSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THE CHILDREN OF TALLAHASSEE . WILSON WA NTED TO HE LP CREATE, FOR THESE CHILDR EN, PARTICULARLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHILDREN, A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THERE THEIR NEIGHBORS AND THEIR TEACHERS KNEW WHAT THEY WERE UP TO , AND EX PECTED THEIR BEST. SO WILSON STARTED F INDING OUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE SCHOOLS AND NEIGHBORHOODS OF TALLAHASSEE. HE WAS ON A CITIZEN BO ARD FOR HRS AND AS PAR T OF THAT WORK, REVIEWED AN APPLICATION FROM WE SSON ELEMENTARY SC HOOL FOR AGRANT TO TEACH GARDENING TO WESSON STUD ENTS. WILSON WENT TO WESSON SCH OOL AS A RESULT OF THIS. HE WA LKED THE ROOMS. HE WALKED THE CORRIDORS, ANDWHAT HE SAW WAS A DI NGY , UNKEPT SCHO OL, NOT THE KIND OF ENVIRONMENT CONDUCIVE TO LEARNING, NOT THE KIND O F ENVIRONMENT WILSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD COULD TOLERATE. THAT DID IT. WILSON WENT TO THE SCHOOL BOARD.M ORE THAN ONCE . WILSON EXPLAINED TO THE BOARD WHAT HE HAD SEEN , MORE THAN ONCE. WILSON EXPLAI NED WHAT WAS NEEDED, A LOT MORE THAN ONCE . YOU WILL NOT BE SURPRISED T O LEARN THAT WESSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS REFURBISHED . ALONG THE WAY , WILSON HADBECOME A MEMBER OF THE WESSON ADVISORY BOA RD AND THE LEON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT ADVISORY COUNCIL. AND HE GOT INVOLVED WITH BOND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND THE EN TIRE BOND NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE HE SE RVES O N THE BOND COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER BOARD. AS FOR THE SCHOOL S, THE WORK DIDN'T END WITH WESSON'S FACE-LIFT. BOND AND WESSON SCHOOLS ARE BEING RE PLACED BY A B RAND NEW SCHOOL . GOOD THI NGS HAPPEN IN WILSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD . SYSTEMS AND P E OPLE ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR AND TO EACH OTHER . WILSON'S CI VIC ACTIVITIES COVER EVERY SEGMENT OF THIS COMMUNITY. SCHOOLS , SALVATION ARMY , SO MUCH MO RE. WILSON HO LDS A DEMANDING JOB. NO MATTER. IN WILSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU PAY B A CK, YOU GIVE BACK , YOU LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER. A FEW YEARS BACK, WILSON 'S YOUNGER BR OTHER DIED , LEAVING A WI FE AND SO N. WILSON'S NEPHEW , NICHOLAS HENDERSON. WILSON TOOK ON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF BEINGFATHER TO HIS NEPHEW , ASMUCH AS HE COUL D. HE BEC AME THE BOY'S MENTOR , FRIEND , ADVIC E OR , MORE THAN ADVISOR , MORE THAN YOUR AVERAGE FAV ORITE UNCLE. HE TAUGHT NI CHOLAS , DO WHAT YOUR MOTHER SAYS , BE EXCELLENT IN YOUR STUD IES , BE RESPECTFUL OF OTHER PEOPLE. WILSON AND NIC HOLAS ARE VERY CLOSE.WE HAVE ALL MET NICH OLAS , BECAUSE WILSON BR INGS HIM TO MEETINGS AND EVENTS SUCH A S THE FLORIDA BAR ASSOCIATION MEETING , WHENEVER HE CAN . FUN AS THE FLORIDA BAR ASSOCIATION ME ETING M UST BE FOR NICHOLAS , H E MA VEN JOINED, EVEN MORE , THE EVEN MOORE , THE TIMES THAT WILSON TOOK HIM TO LEXINGTON , KENTUCKY. THERE THEY STAYED WITH WILSON'S CL OSE FRIEND , UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY 'S BABBLE COACH SMITH, WHO IS MARRIED TO HIS COU SIN DONNA. THEY GO TO THE BASKETBALL G AMES. THEY ARE FAMILY. AS FOR NICHOLAS, HE TOOK HIS UNCLE'S ADVICE , O BEYED THE LOVING COMMAN DS O F HIS SUBSTITUTE DAD AND DID WELL IN HIS STUDIES. NICHOLAS GRADUATED FROM H OWARD UNIVERSITY AND IS NOW WELL ALONG IN HIS STUDIES AT HOWARD UNIVERSITY MEDICALSCHOOL. L UCKY YOUNG MAN, IT TO LIVE IN WILSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD . THE DO CENTS , THE CHILDREN WHO VISIT THIS COURT , T HECHILDREN AT WESSON AND BOND AND PERSONS THAT WORK AT THIS COURT, ESPECIALLY THE INCREDIBLE SECURITY FORCEHERE, ARE ALL PART OF WILSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD. I BEGAN BY SAYING CHARLEY AND I AND OUR CHILDREN ARE PART OF WHAT WILSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD . WHEN I SAY OUR CHILDREN, THAT INCLUDES SO FAR , SON , DAUGHTER, SON-IN-LAW , DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, TWO GRANDSONS , ONE ON THE WAY AND ASHLEY AND CHIP. L AST FALL , OUR DAUGHTER ASHLEY MOVED TO JACKSONVILLE , WHEN SHE FINISHED HER FELLOWSHIP WITH AT LANTA LEGAL AID.SHE DID THAT SO SHE COULD BE CLOSE TO A YOUNG GATOR N AMED CHIP. WHEN WE KNEW CHIP AND ASHLEY WERE COMING TO TALL AHASSEE TO HEAR ORAL ARGUMENT, I TOLD WILSON WHAT WAS U P, ANDWHEN THEY CAME , WILSON MAD E IT A POIN T TO MEET AND HAVE A LONG TALK WITH CHIP . WILSON'S ENTHUSIASM ABOUT CHIP MADE US EVEN HAPP IER, WHEN A T CHRISTMASTIME , CHIP AND ASHLEY BECAME ENGAGED TO MARY. AS A MATTER OF FACT - - TO MARY , AS A MATTER OF FACT NEXT MARTIN LUTHER KING WEEKEND. THAT IS THE KIND OF CA RING , INTENTIONAL SUPPORT THAT WILLS AND THAT WILSON AND HIS NEIGHBORHOOD ARE ALLABOUT. THANK YOU, WILSON , FOR WHAT YOU HAVE SHARED WITH US, WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS. WE ARE DE EPLY HONORED , A LLOF US , TO BE PART O F WILSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD.THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

CHIEF JUSTICE: THE RE ARE A LOT OF VERY , VERY IMPORTANT PEOPLE HERE TO DAY , AND SO I KNO W THAT IF IMENTION SO ME OF THEM I WILL OFFEND OTHERS , BUT I CAN'THELP BUT ACKNOWLEDGE THE FIRST VISIT TO OUR COURTROOM BY THE ANSTEAD TW INS , WHO ARE HER E, AND WE HOPE THEY WILL BEHAVE THEMSELVES D URING THE REST OF THE CEREMONY. I WOULD LI KE TO , NO W , CALL UPON JUSTICE LE ANDER J SHAW , WHO WILL GI VE HIS OBSERVATIONS O N BEHALF OF YOU AND THE COURT. I WAS WORRIED. I DIDN'T SEE ANY NOTES THERE. [LAUGHTER]

JUSTICE SHAW : THEY ARENOT AS LONG AS THEY SEEM. I HAD TO HAVE MY PRESCRIPTION CHAN GED AND I HAD TO HAVE BIG PRINT. CHIEF JUSTICE , JUSTICES , FRIENDS , WILSON BARNES , IT IS TRUE THAT GRATIFY ING EXPERIENCE TO JOIN WITH OTHERS TODAY, IN PAYING TRIBUTE TO MARSHAL BARNES . SOMEPLACE IN THE PERSONNEL FILES , I AM SURE THER E IS A JOB DESCRIPTION FOR THE MARSHAL OF THE FLORIDASUPREME COURT . BUT IT HA RDLY DEFINES WILSON'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS COURT . TO THE STAT E OF FLORIDA AND THE TALLAHASSEE COMMUNITY . A PAR TIAL LIST OF HIS COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT INCLUDES M E MMER S H IP ON THEBOARD OF THE TALLAH ASSEE MARINE INSTI TUTE , MEMBERSHIP ON THE BOARD OF THE TALLAHASSEE BR ANCH NA ACP , MEMBERSHIP ON LEON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT , ADVI SORY PANEL , THE SALVATION ARMY, THE UR BAN LEA GUE , THE VIETNAM VETERANS ASSOCIATION , AND AS YOU HAVE HEARD , MEMBERSHIP ON WESSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ADVISORY BOARD . HIS UNIQUE MA NNER OF ANNOUNCING AND CON VENE ING OF THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT HAS BECOME HIS HALLMARK . ANYONE WHO HAS EVER HEARD HIS DISTINCTIVE "H EA R YE , HEAR YE " IS IMPRESSED WITH THE FACT THAT THE SUPREMECOURT OF FLORIDA IS IN SESSION AND THERE WILL B E N O DISRUPTIONS . EQUALLY IMPRESSIVE , IS THE BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE THAT C O LONEL BARNES BR ING TO SAY THE COURT. AS YOU HAVE HEARD , HE HAS A BS IN BIOLOGY , A ND AN MS IN SCIENCE ED UCATION , AND HAS DONE DOCTORAL STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. HE S E RVED HIS COUNTRY FOR OVER 28 YEARS , IN WAR AND IN PEACE. AS A STA FF OFFICER AND UNIT COMMANDER . FROM 1960-TO-1988 , AND HAVING BEEN COMMISSIONED AROUND THAT SAME TIME , I CAN ATTEST TO THE FACT THAT THE 1960s WERE NOT EA SY YEARS FOR A B LACK JU NIOR GRADE OFF ICER, A SECOND LIEUTENANT. I HAVE SEEN SOLDIERS CROSS THE ST REET , R ATHER THAN SALUTE A BLACK OFFICER. SO THOSE WERE NOT EASY YEARS FOR WILSON, I A M SURE . BUT HE PERSERVERED . DURING HIS MILITARY CAREER , IN AD DITION TO HIS OVERSEAS DUTIES , HE ATTENDED THE NAVAL WAR COLLEGE. HE ATT ENDED COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLL EGE . HE SERVED ON ADVISORY PA NELS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE . HE COMMANDED AN UNIT RESPONSIBLE FOR ARMY RECRUITMENT . AND A BU DGET IN EX CESS OF $1 MILLION . WITH STAFF OF 125 PERSONS. HE DIRE CTED 20- PERSON COMPREHENSIVE RES EARCH STUD FOY ARMY LEADERSHIP . STUDY, FOR ARMY LEADERSHIP. SO IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT, WHEN WILSON CAME TO THECOURT , HE BECAME THE GONE -TO MAN - - HE BECAME THE GO TO MAN. NO JOB IS TOO L ARGE AND NO JOB I S TOO S MALL , FROM OVERSEEING TO UP K EEP AND INVENTTORY OF THE BUILDING , TO COURT SECURITY . WHEN AN EMERGENCY COMES UP , THE CALL GOES OUT FOR MARSHAL BARNES . BY VI RTUE OF HIS MANY FRIENDSHIPS AR OUND THE STATE , HE HAS SERVED THE COURT AS A CONTACT PERSON , A FACILITATOR , AND AN AMBASSADOR OF GOODWILL. IT IS THIS ATTE NTION TO DETAIL THAT HAS MADE WILSON A SUP ERIOR OFFICER ANDSERVED HIM WELL AS SUPREME COURT MARSHAL. THROUGH IT ALL , I HAVE NEVER HEARD HIM COMPLAIN. I HAVE NEVER HEARD HIM SAY THAT SOMETHING COULDN'T BE DONE . AND IN FACT , HIS FAVORITE EXPRESSION I S , I WILL MA KEIT HAPPEN . AND NO MA TTER HOW DIFFICULT A TASK, H E DO ES IT WITH THE DIGNITY , THO ROUGH NSNESS , AND THOROUGHNESS AND CONFIDENCE. ANOTHER ONE OF HIS FAVORITE EXPRESSIONS IS NO TASK TOO DIFFICULT , NO SACRIFICE TOO G REAT .

NO BU RDEN TOO HEA VY, N O SACRIFICE TOO GR EAT .

THOSE WHO WORK WITH HIMON A DAY-TO-DAY BA SIS , REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT HE IS TO THE COURT AND HOW MUCH HE WILL BE MI SSED. THE STATE OF FLORIDA WILL BE IMMENSELY POORER , BY VIRTUE OF HIS RETI REMENT . I NEVER TOLD WILSON THIS , BUT THE THING THAT I ADMIRE , THE MOST ABOUT HIM, IS SOMETHING THAT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER BY MRS. WELLS. IT IS THE ROLE THAT HE HAS PLAYED IN THE LIFE OF HIS NEPHEW , WHOSE FATHER DIED AT AN EAR LY AGE . WILSON TOOK OVER THE ROLE OF SURROGATE FAT HER, AND HE HAS GUIDED , COUNSELED , AND FINANCED THIS YOUNG MAN'S EDUCATION AND U P KE EP. THOSE WHO WORK AT THE COURT HERE, HAVE PROBABLY SEEN HIM STUDYING IN THE LIBRARY , DURING SPRING BREAK AND HOLIDAYS , AND THAT IS UNUSUAL , BECA USE MOST COLLEGE KIDS TEND TO BE AT DAYTONA BEACH AROUND THAT TIME . AND THERE IS AN OTHER DISTINGUISHING FEAT URE ABOUT HIM. I GUESS HE IS IN HIS TWENTIES NOW , BUT IF YOU SPEAK TO HIM , HE LOOKS YOU IN THE EYE , AND HE ANSWERS YES, SIR AND NO, SIR , YES, MA'AM , NO, MA 'AM ! AND YOU DON'T SEE THAT IN A YOUNG MAN TOO OFTEN. AND I ATTRIBUTE THAT TO WILSON 'S INFLUENCE. UNDER WILSON'S TUTELAGE AND GUIDANCE, HE STAYED IN SCHOOL, GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND W E NT ON TO ATTEND COLLEGE, WHERE HE P LAYED FOOTBALL , WH ILE MAINTAIN ING A HIGH GRADE POINT AVERAGE , AND THE OTHER DAY, I AS KE D A BOUT HIM , AND IT WAS ONLY THEN THAT WILSON INFORMED ME THAT THE YOUNG MAN IS NOW I N HIS FIRST YEAR OF M E DICAL SCHOOL. I JUST FOUND IT OUT . WILSON, I KN OW YOU ARE PROUD OF HIM, AND WE ARE PROUD OF YOU . 'JOIN YOUR MANY FRIENDS THROUGHOUT THE STATE IN WISHING YOU GODSPEED IN WHATEVER YOUR NEW ENDEAVOUR S ARE . GOD BLESS YOU. MAY YOU EN JOY YOUR WELL-DESERVED RETIREMENT. EXCUSE ME. YOUR SECOND RET IREMENT. [LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE] EN

CHIEF JUSTIC E: THAN K YOU , JUSTICE SHAW. I F IT IS ALL RIGHT, BECAUSE ALTHOUGH EVERYONE HERE IS IMPORTANT , THERE WAS SOMEBODY THAT TOLD ME THAT SHE HAD TO TAKE A BR EAK IN ATRIAL , SO FOR ALL OF YOU PEOPLE THAT DON'T THINK TRIAL JU DGES WORK ALL THE TIME , SO I WOULD LIKE TO ASK JUDGE NIKKI CLARK TO COME UP AND SAY A FEW WORDS SO YOU CAN GET BACK TO YOUR JURY TRIAL AND IMPRESS YOUR CHIEFJUDGE THAT YOU ARE WORKING ON A THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

THANK YOU SO MUCH .

MS. CLARK : CHIEF JUSTICE PARIENTE, JUSTICES , FRI ENDS.

CHIEF JUSTICE: YOU CAN CATCH YOUR BREATH.

YES. I JUST RUSHED IN. THANK YOU VERY , VERY MUCH FOR ACCOMMODATING MY SCHEDULE. I AM IN T RIAL. WE TOOK A RECESS. I JUST SO MUCH WA NTED TO BE OVER HERE AND DI DN'T WANT TO THIS MISTHIS FOR ANYTHING IN THE WORLD, SO I THIS, FOR ANYTHING IN THE WORLD, SO ITOLD THE WITNESS , H URRY UP , BECAUSE I HAVE GOT TO GO, BUT I WANTED VERY MUCH TO BE HERE TODAY , TO B E AMONGTHOSE WHO HAD A CH ANCE T O THANK WILSON BARNES FOR A JOB WELL DONE . I WANT TO J OIN EVERYBODY ELSE IN THANKING YOU FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE T O THE STATE AND SPECIFICALLY FOR YOUR 15 YEARS OF SERV ICE TO THE COURT SYSTEM . A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE G O ING TO REMEMBER WILSON FOR THE WAYTHAT HE OPENED COURTTHOUSANDS OF TIMES, WITH THAT MAGNIFICENT BO OMING V OICE . EVEN MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO RE MEMBER YOU AND YOUR FACE AND YOUR VOICE AND WATCH THE N ATIONAL NEWS , DURING OUR NOW INFAMOUS 36 DAYS IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER OF 2000. AND, OF COURSE , THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WILL REMEMBER WILSON FOR THE W A RM WELCOME THAT THEY RECEIVED WHEN THEY CAME TO VISIT THIS AWESOME COURTHOUSE . THE TRIAL AND APPELLATE COURTS IN THIS STATE WILL BE EVER GRATEFUL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP THAT YOU PROVIDED IN OPER ATING SAFE AND E FFICIENT COURTHOUSES . OF COURSE , IN MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY , SECURITY CONCERNS HAVE UNFORTUNATELY B EEN HEIGHTENED IN RECENT MONTHS . IN FLORIDA , WE HAVE ALWAYS FELT THAT WE HAVE BEEN AHEAD OF THE C URVE O N THOSE SECURITY IS SUES . THERE WERE MANY , MANY TIMES WHEN WILSON WOULD COME OVER TO THE SECOND CIRCUIT AND REVIEW WITH OUR COURT PERSONNEL AND OUR COURT ADMINISTRATION , ISS UES OF SECURITY AND ISSUES OF SAFETY AND ISSUES OF EFFICIENCY. WE APPRE CIATE THAT. WE WILL MISS THAT . ALSO, THIS ENTIRE COMM UNITY IS APPRECIA TIVE THAT YOU HAVE CH OSEN TO CALL TALLAHASSEE YOUR H OME . WITHIN MONTHS OF ARRIVING HERE, WILSON BECAME A PART OF THE LANDSCAPE OF TALLAHASSEE . WILSON WASN'T THE KI ND WHO SAT AROU ND AND WAITED TO SEE IF HE WOULD A D JUST TO TALLAHASSEE.HE MADE TALLAH ASSEE FIT WITH HIM. HE MADE SURE HE WAS A GOOD FIT WITH TALLAHASSEE. FOR E X AMPLE , WILSON NEVER JUST SERVED ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE N A ACP . HE PROVIDED LEADERSHIP TO THAT BOARD . AND WILSON HASN'T JUST SERVED A S A MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL DIST RICT ADVISORY PANEL. WILSON HAS BEEN THE VOICE , THE CONSCIENCE, THE ONE WHO SHOWS UP AT THE MEETINGS TO HELP MAKE SCHOOL BOARD POLICY. WILSON IS , IN EVERY SE NSE OF THE WORD, A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY . EVEN LAKE E LLA, HE DIDN'T JUST FIND OUT ABOUT LAKE ELLA WHEN HE GOT HERE. WILSON CAME T O O WN LAKE ELLA. I CAN'T TE LL YOU THE NUMBER OF TIMES THAT I HAVE RI DDEN BY LAKE ELLA , ON THE WAY HOME OR ON THE WAY TO THE MALL OR ANYPLACE ELSE, ANDSOMEHOW WILSON IS ALWAYS THERE, WAL KING AROUND THAT CIRCLE IN HIS FAST PA CED KIND OF WAY .

CHIEF JUSTICE: CAN WE ASKHIM WHAT TO DO WITH THE D UCK ?

MS. CLARK : I WILL TELL YOU WHAT , WHEN H E WALKS IN THOSE FAST - PACED CIRCLES , THE DUCKS GET AWAY FROM HIM. SO EVEN LAKE ELLA HAS BECOME HIS PARK. WILSON WOULD, OF COURSE, ALWAYS SHOW UP AT WESSON ELEMENTARY AND WOULD ORGANIZE WHATEVER IT IS THATNEEDED TO BE ORGANIZED. WHEN TALLAHASSEE MARINE INSTITUTE NE EDED NEW I DEAS , THEY CALLED ON WILSON. THEY KNEW HE WOULD HAVE THOSE FR ESH ID EAS. THEY KNEW HE WOULD BE WILLING TO WORK HA RD. WHEN ANYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY NEEDED FRESH IDEAS , WILSON WAS THE MAN . IN ALL THAT HE DOES , AND ALLTHAT HE STANDS FOR , WILSON B ARNES INSPIRES EXCELLENCE , DILIGENCE , AND PERSEVERANCE . NOT ONE TIME HAS WILSON LET A FRIEND BECOME DISSPIRITED OR DISCOURA GED. NOT ONE TIME HAS WILSON ALLOWED AN IMPORTANT WORD TO GO UN SAID . HE HAS NEVER TOLERATED MEDIOCRITY . IT IS HIS JOB TO KEEP HISFRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES UPBEAT AND TR ULY READY FOR THE WORLD , AND TO THIS DAY IHAVE NO IDEA HOW HE HAS ACCOMPLISHED AS MUCH AS HE HAS OR HOW HE HAS TIME AND MAN AGES TO KEEP CLOSE TO AS MANY FRIENDS AS HE HAS. WILSON BARNES HAS TRULY MADE A DIFF ERENCE IN THE LI VES O F COUNTLESS FLORID IANS , INCLUDING MI NE. WILSON, WE LOVE YOU . WE WILL CERTAINLY MISS YOUR PRESENCE IN OUR COURTS. BUT WE WILL BE SEEING YOU AROUND, AT COMMISSION MEETINGS, AT SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS , AT LAKE ELLA , AND ANY EVENT WHERE A ST RONG VOICE IS NEEDED , LI TERALLY OR FIGURATIVELY . WILSON HAS SET THE STAN DARD THAT MARS HALS WOULD HAVE TO L IVE UP TO FOR YEARS TO COME . WHILE WILSON'S CA REER AS MARSHAL IS COMING TO AN EN D, ALL OF THOSE WHO KNOW HIM , KNOW THAT HIS RETIREMENT WILL NOT STOP HIM FROM SETTING MILESTONES . AFTER ALL, THIS IS N'T THE FIRST CAR EER WILSON HAS RETIRED FROM AND KE PT GOING STRONG . MADAM JUSTICE , THANK YOU , A GAIN , FOR ALL OWING ME TO MAKE A FEW REMARKS. I SO APPRECIATE YOUR ACCOMMODATING MY SCHEDULE. WILSON, THANK YOU, A GAIN, FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TREMENDOUS FRIENDSHIP , AND THANKS FOR A JOB WELL DONE. THANK YOU . [APPLAUSE]

CHIEF JUSTICE: THA NK YOU FOR THOSE WONDERFUL WORDS AND FOR YOUR CAMEO APPEARANCE HERE TODAY. I WOULD NEXT LIKE TO CALL ON JUSTICE GRIMES TO SHARE SOME WORDS WITH US.

JUSTICE GRIMES : WELL , I AM GOING TO TRY IT . "HEAR YE. HEAR YE.HEAR YE. " . THAT IS NOT GOING TO CUT IT . NOBODY CAN DO IT LIKE WILSON BARNES. I AM VERY HONORED TO HAVE BEEN ASKED TO SPEAK AT WILSON'S RETI REMENT . I HAVE ALWAYS AD MIRED WILSON, B OTH AS A MAN AND, ALSO, FORWHAT HE HAS DONE FOR THIS COURT . YOU HAVE HEARD , AL READY , OF HIS WON DERFUL MILITARY EXPERIENCE, SERVICE TWO TOURS IN VIETNAM , 25 MONTHS SERVING WITH THE 1 O N 1 st AIRBORNE , SERVE WITH THE 10 1st AIRBORNE , SERVING IN THE MECHANIZED COMMUNITY , SERVING IN THE PENTAGON , BATTALION COMM ANDER , FORT KNOCKS, NA VAL WAR COLLEGE, AND SERVICE WITH NATO IN TURKEY. AND FINA LLY , FIN ISHING HIS THIRD TOURS OF DUTY AT THE U.S. CENT RAL COMMAND A T MacDILL , WHERE HE PLAYED A PART IN THE PLANNING OF DESERT STORM. RETIRED AS A F ULL COL ONEL , AFTER 28 YEARS OF SERVICE . INCLUDING SE VERAL ME DALS , THE BRONZE STAR AMONG THEM. INSOFAR AS THE COURT IS CONCERNED, I THINK THAT I A M QUALIFIED TO BE ABLE TO TALK, SOME , ABOUT WHAT WILSON HAS MEANT TO THE COURT , BECA USE UNLIKE THE SITTING JUSTICES , I WAS HERE WHEN HE WAS APPOINTED MARSHAL . AT THAT TIME , THE MACHINES OF THIS COURT - - THE MAINTENANCE OF THIS COURT WAS IN DISAR RAY. BASICALLY SHAB BY. I HAD JUST COME UP FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL A COUPLE OF YEARS BE FORE, AND WHEN I GOT UP HERE, ITHOUGHT I HAD BEEN DEMOTED . I LOOKED AROUND . [LAUGHTER] BUT EVEN MORE , WAS THE LACK OF SECURITY . THERE WERE ACT UALLY DOORS TO THE COURT THAT WERE UNGUARDED AND LEFT OPEN, ANDI HAD REMARKED AT THE TIME,THAT I THOUGHT A KID WITH A BOMB COULD WALK AROUND AND NOBODY WOULD EVER NOTICE IT . THAT ALL CH ANGED , WHEN WILSON CAME ABOARD . INSOFAR AS THE UP KEEP OF THE FACILITIES , YOU CAN SEE AS IT IS NOW , AND ADMITTEDLY THERE HAS BEEN, ALSO , SOME BUILDING RENOVATIONS WH ICH WERE NEEDED B A DLY , BUT NOW ITHINK THAT THIS BU ILDING , CONSIDERING ITS AGE, CAN COMPARE WITH ANY BUILDING IN THE STATE FOR ITS BEAUTY AND ITS UP KEEP. AND WILSON HAS BEEN IN CHARGE OF THAT . BUT EVEN MORE SO , IS THE IMPROVEMENT INSECURITY . IN MANY WAYS , OF COURSE, HE PUT IN THE S C ANNER , THE METAL DETECTOR IN THE FRONT DOOR. HE AR RANGED FOR SCREENING OF MAIL WHERE THE MAIL IS SCREENED OUTSIDE THE FACILITY, BEFORE IT G ETS HERE. HE C REATED OR DEVELOPED RELATIONSHIPS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT ON THE , BO TH THE STATE , F EDERAL AND LOCALLEVELS, WHER E HE COULD CALL ON THEM , WHEN SECU RITY INTERESTS AR E A CONCERN. SOM ETIMES WHEN, WHAT HASHAPPENED, WE GET SOME OF THOSE CRAZY LETTERS FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE SORT OF SEMITHREATENING , AND HE COU LD HAVE THEM TO THE FAC ILITY TO BE ABL E TO GET THEM CHECKED OUT, TO BE SURE THAT THEY WERE NOT SOMETHINGTHAT WOULD BE SERIOUS PROBLEMS. HE TRAINED THE SECURITY PERSONNEL IN A WAY THE Y HAD NEVER BEEN TRAINED BEFORE. I GUESS THAT IS HIS MILITARY EXPERIENCE. HE NOTED THAT THEY HAD ACCESS TO G UNS , AND I THINK SOME OF THEM HAD NEVER FIRED G UNS, AND HE THOUGHT MAYBE THEY OU GHT TO BE TRAINED , AND SO HE HAD ACTUALLY GUNNERY PRACTICE FOR THE GUARDS. HE WAS ALWAYS LO OKING A HEAD , TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS A , A SECURITY ISSUE WOULDN'T COME UP THAT HE HAD NOT FORESEEN. I AM TOLD THAT YOU ARE IN THE TENS TIME OF THAT, DURING THE TENS TIME OF THE THE TENSE TIME OF THE 2000 EL ECTIONS , THAT HE ACTUALLY HAD DEPUTIES WATCHING AND GU ARDING THEHOMES OF THE JUSTICES . I KNOW THAT, WHEN I WASCHIEF JUSTICE, I HAD TO GO TO TA MPA ON SOME BUSINESS AND THERE HAD BEEN SOME PROBLEMS IN TAMP A THERE WAS A GROUP DOWN THERE THAT STRANGELY ENOUGH HAD STARTED THEIR OWN COURT SYSTEM AND WERE MAKING TH REATS AGAINST THE JUDI CIARY , AND IT WASSORT OF A PERIOD OF UNREST, AND UNBEKNOWNST T O ME WHEN I GOT TO TAMPA, THERE WAS A DEPUTY WAITING FOR ME , AND HE ESCORTED ME ALL THROUGH THE WHOLE DAY , JUST TO MAKE S URE THAT I DIDN'T FALL IN HARM'S WAY. BUT THAT WAS WILSON 'S , THAT WAS WILSON'S MANNER . HE SET THE STAN DARD FOR HOW SECURITY AND MAINTENANCEOUGHT TO BE . AND I AM