The Florida House held a special session Thursday to remember State Representative Clay Ford, who passed away Monday.
Before his time in the Florida Legislature, Representative Clay Ford was a member of the Arkansas Legislature and a former member of the U.S. Army.
Later, when he moved to Florida, the Pensacola Republican was elected to the Florida House in a special election in February 2007 and served his Panhandle district until Monday, when he lost a battle to cancer.
To lawmakers, like Republican Representative Ed Hooper of Clearwater, Ford was the epitome of a great man and a close friend.
“When you look up Southern statesmen, Clay Ford appears. That will always be my picture of him,” said a tearful Hooper.
Representative Jimmy Patronis, a Republican from Panama City, described him as a mentor, who had noble qualities.
“The humility that he had was intense. He would never ask for help, but always insisted on helping others,” recalled Patronis.
And, to House Speaker Will Weatherford, Ford was a loving family man.
“The one thing I remember the most about Clay is the fact that I have never seen a man who showed such love, respect, for his wife than Clay Ford, and we could all learn from that example,” said Weatherford.
Ford is survived by his wife Carol, three sons and nine grandchildren. He was 74-years-old when he passed away.
For more news updates, follow Sascha Cordner on twitter @SaschaCordner.
