Recently, I had the great pleasure of introducing a good friend, retired federal court Judge Gerald Tjoflat, as a new honorary member of my Rotary club.
I’m proud to be a Rotarian because it is such a tremendous organization of men and women who are dedicated to “service above self.” That certainly describes Judge Tjoflat.
After all, he spent four decades as a judge on the federal bench with the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, where he became chief judge in 1989.
President Richard Nixon nominated him to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida in 1970.
The judge was appointed to the 11th Circuit by President Gerald Ford in 1975.
He jokes that he got the appointments because he was about the “only Republican lawyer in North Florida at the time.”
On two occasions he made President Ronald Reagan’s short list for the U.S. Supreme Court.
To all of us who know him, Gerald Tjoflat is an icon...a legal titan...a great citizen...and a very good person.
Some of my earliest memories of Judge Tjoflat are with the Boy Scouts, where his service is legendary.
Judge Tjoflat became involved in scouting in 1974, and he came to believe strongly in what Father Flanagan, founder of Boys Town, said: “There is no such thing as a bad boy.” Instead, Judge Tjoflat says we have bad men who serve as terrible role models.
He has always lived as the ultimate role model. Probably more than anyone else I know, Judge Tjoflat has lived every day demonstrating the ethical core of Rotary: truth, fairness, and goodwill.
He truly believes in nurturing friendships and doing those things that are beneficial to all concerned.
If you’ve ever had a conversation with Judge Tjoflat, you have quickly learned of his belief that strong leadership makes a big difference in a community. But, he says–and I think we all agree–that we need leaders who can separate politics from “what is right.”
And, that brings me to the purpose of this column.
About one year ago, we named Wendell Davis a winner of the 2009 Spirit Award for Integrity. The Spirits are our way of recognizing those who give of themselves to help others; Wendell certainly fits that description.
And, as I got to thinking about Judge Tjoflat, it caused me to also think about Wendell, who is being sworn in this month as president of the state real estate association, Florida Realtors.
The two men have much in common. They are people who live their lives with such a high standard that each qualifies as a true leader and a role model for others.
In learning more about Wendell as part of the Spirit Awards, I discovered from other Association members that he represents the heart and soul of this industry. His peers say he is the best of the best because he’s always doing his best.
To me, that’s the definition of “Integrity.” No short-cuts. And, no question about it: always do your best.
I think President Lincoln was talking about integrity when he said, “I never had a policy; I have just tried to do my very best each and every day.”
Does that sound like Wendell to you?
Shakespeare said, “Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.”
“Do wrong to none.” Doesn’t that sound like Wendell Davis?
As we move into 2010, with all of us praying and hoping for a better year, maybe it would do all of us some good to resolve to live our own lives a little more like Judge Tjoflat and Wendell Davis.
Maybe we can demonstrate more truth, fairness and goodwill to others, as Judge Tjoflat does every day.
And, maybe we can model Wendell Davis by giving our very best each day and doing no harm to others.
If we can do those things, I truly believe 2010 can be a great year.
Don’t you? Please, pass along your thoughts on what we all should be doing to help each other. It’s easy to find me: [email protected].
— Jim Bailey is president of Bailey Publishing & Communications Inc. and publisher of Realty/Builder Connection.