In Memory

Gary Perkins (Class Of 1968) VIEW PROFILE

Gary E. Perkins, 60, Executive Director of the Florida Sheriffs Association, died Thursday, January 21, 2010 in Tallahassee following a five-year battle with cancer. Visitation will be held from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Monday, January 25, 2010, at Faith Presbyterian, 2200 N. Meridian Road. A memorial service will be held at Faith Presbyterian at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 26, 2010. Bevis Funeral (850-385-2193) is handling arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Florida Sheriffs Association Building Fund (P.O. Box 12519, Tallahassee, FL 32317). Born October 1, 1949 in Jacksonville, Florida, Gary attended North Florida Junior College in Madison and was in the first graduating class at the University of North Florida where he received a Bachelor's Degree in Business Marketing in 1973. After working in Atlanta and Jacksonville for six years, Gary relocated to Tallahassee and joined the Florida Sheriffs Association staff in 1981 in administration. He was appointed Deputy Executive Director in 1992, and assumed the position of Executive Director in 2002. He also served as Vice Chairperson of the Committee of State Association Executive Directors and Presidents of the National Sheriffs' Association. Gary's vision and innovative thinking contributed to the growth of FSA's Honorary Membership program. He was equally dedicated to expanding the non-profit organization and assisting the Sheriffs' Offices around the state, launching discount buying programs for auto fleet, equipment and supplies that are hugely successful today. He was also highly instrumental in helping make FSA one of the largest and most successful law enforcement associations in the nation. An avid fan of the Green Bay Packers and the Georgia Bulldogs, Gary was passionate about football and never turned down a challenge on the racquetball court. He enjoyed spending time at his retreat house on Lake Seminole, and loved freshwater fishing, the outdoors and long, meditative Saturday rides on the lawnmower. But Gary will be remembered most for his love of and loyalty to his family, which includes the four-legged members: Bojangles, Kobe and Booger. Gary's nieces and nephews, who saw him as a surrogate father, are going to miss their "Uncle Buck." Gary is survived by his wife, Lesley Allen Perkins; a daughter, Lindsey of Tallahassee, FL and son, Jason Smith (Rachel Kushner) of Los Angeles, CA; stepson Steven Allen of Titusville, FL; and grandson, Remy-Eugene Smith Kushner of Los Angeles, CA; a sister Dottie Perkins Beal (Maurice) of Jacksonville, FL; two nieces, Trisha Beal of Houston, TX, Elizabeth Perkins of Tallahassee and two nephews, Chris Beal (Tamara) of Albuquerque, NM and Thomas Perkins of Tallahassee, FL. Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Eugene and Irma Perkins and brother, Robert W. Perkins.





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