Will Weatherford Inducted Into PHSC's Hall of Fame

From Pasco-Hernando State College:

Former Florida Speaker of the House, Will Weatherford, was inducted into Pasco-Hernando State College’s Legislative Hall of Fame at a ceremony held on Tuesday, September 20 at PHSC’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch in Wesley Chapel, 2727 Mansfield Blvd.

Ed Blommel, chair of the PHSC 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. An identical plaque was also presented to Sen. Weatherford.

“We recognize Will Weatherford, who has proved to be an unwavering champion for PHSC,” said Blommel. “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.”

PHSC President Timothy L. Beard, Ph.D., also recognized the former speaker’s efforts to provide equity in funding for the Florida College System, leading to $7.7 million funding increase for the college and for securing more support for PHSC from the State Board of Education.

Special guests at the event included Lt. Governor 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, as well as Bill, and J.D. Porter and Quinn Porter-Miller.

The Legislative Hall of Fame is a new PHSC tradition that recognizes legislators for supporting the college and higher education opportunities for their constituents. Sen. Latvala, inducted in July, and Weatherford are the first inductees in PHSC’s Legislative Hall of Fame inaugural class of 2016.

Photo courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State College

Photo caption: PHSC Trustees Ardian Zika, Morris Porton, and Marilyn Pearson-Adams, Former Speaker Will Weatherford, PHSC President Tim Beard, PHSC trustee Robin Schneider and PHSC Board Chair Ed Blommel.