by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
The guest speaker didn’t provide any surprises on Monday while recounting the Jacksonville Jaguars performance on Sunday, but one member of the Downtown Rotary received another reason to celebrate this week.
Ch. 30/47 Sports Director Brian Sexton addressed the Downtown Rotary Club at the Omni and was admittedly tired of explaining the team’s poor play.
“It seemed like I spent most of Sunday explaining things,” said Sexton, who provides play-by-play commentary for the Jaguars Radio Network. “I left all my best stuff at the game on Sunday.”
Sexton explained that an offensive line riddled with injuries contributed to the teams small offensive output on the road against the Tennessee Titans. Already without the services of veteran center Brad Meester due to injury, the Jaguars suffered injuries to guards Maurice Williams and Vince Manuwai. Sexton did point out that Khalif Barnes “battled” all day against tough opposition, Brian Witherspoon displayed “that second gear” that will help team speed, and Matt Jones displayed a focus on football that he hasn’t seen in the former first-round pick.
Prior to Sexton’s speech, Rotarian and former Duval County Schools Superintendent John Fryer announced that he and his wife Carol will be celebrating 47 years of marriage today and surprised his wife while taking on the role of presenter. John presented Carol with the Paul Harris Fellowship, the highest honor that can be bestowed on a Rotary member. She earned the award through her commitment to family and community, said Fryer of his wife.
“We moved so many times during my career Carol started telling people her job was relocation coordinator,” said John Fryer.
The membership did a good job of keeping the award a secret.
“I didn’t really expect this. I don’t know what to say,” said Carol as she looked at the plaque. “Thank you very much.”
Mike Lawson of Enterprise Leasing, Bill Hill, Dean of the College of Fine Arts at Jacksonville University, and Gail Bachman Director of Event Management at Jacksonville University were accepted as new members Monday.
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