by Sean McManus
Staff Writer
On the weekend, when Gary Flower jettisons his black judicial robe for camouflage pants and a baseball cap and takes his children hunting for historic artifacts at construction sites all over Jacksonville, he said a lot of factors come into play.
“My kids learn the importance of history and cultural heritage,” said the long-time collector of Civil War memorabilia and other souvenirs from old battlefields and campsites, “and we all learn the importance of family.”
For Flower, his family, his work and his most passionate hobby are all tied together. It’s a God-family-community ethic where each piece supports the other and the whole system feeds off itself.
Flower started collecting artillery shells, glass bottles, old bullets, belt buckles, keys, marbles, buttons, thimbles and coins when he was a youngster. His father taught him that if you ask nicely, most of the time property owners will let you onto their property with a metal detector so that you can hunt for artifacts. Then, once the dirt has been thoroughly scoured, Flower donates most of the items to museums and cultural centers so that the community he loves can enjoy them.
Flower’s hobby takes him to Virginia, Mississippi and Maryland. It’s not surprising that he feels a connection to the Civil War; his family arrived in Savannah in 1733. In his office sits a chessboard with Confederate soldiers on one side and Union soldiers on the other.
Flower was born in Miami, where his parents moved when his dad bought a home security business. He attended Jacksonville University, majoring in political science with a minor in history under the tutelage of professors Joan Carver, Fran Kinne and Hugh Blanton. He graduated in 1982.
Flower always thought he was going to be an attorney, and during his time at JU, Carver set him up with an internship with the State Attorney’s Office. It was during that time that he met lobbyist Mike Hightower.
“When Mike went to work at Blue Cross/Blue Shield, I went with him,” said Flower, who worked there as a government relations specialist.
Flower stayed at Blue Cross for two years after graduating from JU. He spent time in Tallahassee and Washington, lobbying for the health care industry. Then he left for Stetson Law School where he became heavily involved in trial activities, spent time at Legal Aid and worked for the public defender in Pinellas County during the summers.
General Counsel Rick Mullaney, who was working in the State Attorney’s Office at that time, hired Flower right out of law school in 1987. He said he learned a lot from “two great state attorneys” — Harry Shorstein and Ed Austin. Then, in 1991, Flower went to work for Harris & Guidi, a family, civil and criminal firm on the Southside. It was there, Flower said, that he really learned how to practice law.
In 1998, Flower was appointed to the family law division of the General Masters Office, the fact-finding, state-appointed magistrate that is the first line of defense before a case goes before the judge.
In 1999, Flower applied for a judgeship. He was appointed to the bench by Gov. Jeb. Bush in January 2000. The seat was open because it was a newly created position.
“My philosophy as a judge emanates from household lessons learned from my parents,” Flower said. “We were taught that your community is as small as your family and is much larger than your neighborhood.”
Flower remains active in his “community,” serving as a founding member of Esprit de Corps, the young professionals arm of the Multiple Sclerosis Society that also raises money for Hospice of Northeast Florida. He’s also on the board of Volunteer Jacksonville and the University of Florida Agricultural Extension. He chairs the Economic Development and Governmental Affairs Committee of the Beaches Chamber of Commerce, is a member of the Beaches Exchange Club and active in the Rotary Club. He’s a graduate of Leadership Jacksonville and Leadership Florida.
He’s also been an instructor at the Florida Coastal School of Law for five years.
“Young minds keep you sharp,” he said. “I’m constantly challenged by bright people who are working hard to enter a noble profession.”
When Flower recently made a donation of artifacts to the LaVilla community, he took the occasion to remind those in charge of the Better Jacksonville Plan that it is important to remain cognizant of the amount of history that is lost in the name of progress.
“We just need the opportunity to make sure we recover the pieces of history that help identify who we are,” he said. “Ordinary artifacts indicate extraordinary lives; lives that made places like LaVilla and Brooklyn great cultural icons.”
Holding a beautiful wooden cross found at the site of the new Parks at the Cathedral housing development, Flower said he maintains a rigorous speaking schedule, visiting schools, church groups and civic organizations to talk about history, the law and his collectables.
“In the days of multi-tasking, I go out into the woods with my family. Just being together is a great honor.” Flower’s wife Kim, who sometimes goes on the excavations, is from Amelia Island.
Flower likes to give back to a community that has given him a job and a family he loves. He’s also giving back for a miracle that he and his wife received. Eight years ago, Flower’s two twin sons, Win and Warner, were born at 27 weeks and weighed one pound, 13 ounces. The doctors told the Flowers they might as well bring in a minister to read them their last rights. But the Flowers said, “No way.” The boys stayed in the hospital for three months.
“We chose to trust our faith over medical science,” said Flower. “And today they’re perfectly healthy boys.” Flower’s daughter, Cooper, turns seven next week.
“The only way to know what’s going on in the community is to go out in it,” he said. “From the security business to the prosecutor’s office to the judgeship, I’ve always had jobs where you see people in trouble. But if you focus on family, and focus on the good, it all turns out OK.”