- November 7, 2024
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The Oath of Retirement was admistered by retired Judge J. David Walsh to Gail Wadsworth. Photo by Jacque Estes
A memento from the old courthouse was Gail Wadsworth' s retirement gift. Photo by Jacque Estes
Gail Wadsworth and her children, Whitney Shephard, Francis Simons, Webb Shephard, and Josh Yates. Photo by Jacque Estes
Rep. Paul Renner was one of many politicians who attended the retirement ceremony for Clerk of Court Gail Wadsworth. Photo by Jacque Estes
State Attorney J.R. Larizza makes a presentation to Gail Wadsworth. Photo by Jacque Estes
Gail Wadsworth arrives at her retirement ceremony in front of the Kim C. Hammond Courthouse on Friday, Dec. 16. Photo by Jacque Estes
With her right hand raised, Clerk of Court Gail Wadsworth recited the oath relayed by retired Judge J. David Walsh. It was an oath of retirement that ended; “I am ready to start taking it easy, so help me God.”
When asked what she was going to do now, she gave an uncharacteristic, one-word answer, “play.”
“I am looking forward to not setting an alarm. Imagine only setting an alarm when I have to be on an airplane.”
Former Flagler County Commissioner George Hanns was one of many who didn’t want to miss the event.
“I was in my 8th year (as county commissioner) when she came on,” Hanns said. “She continued her family history, her father was a judge in the old courthouse and she followed in his footsteps, and became Clerk of the Court, it’s awesome. She did a great job for Flagler County; she’s a native and really has her heart in it. Like me, she deserves to take a break. We are approximately the same age, but she’s a little cuter than I am.”
Sitting in the front row with her children, Francis Simon, Webb Shephard, Whitney Shephard, and son-in-law, Josh Yates, Wadsworth laughed, while she fought back the tears, as Sen. Travis Hutson, Rep. Paul Renner, State Attorney for the 7th District Court R.J. Larizza, Flagler County Commission Chair Nate McLaughlin and Walsh recounted memories of the past 16 years.
“The first person I met in Flagler County was Gail Wadsworth,” Hutson said. “She took me around and showed me everything there was to know about Flagler County, over a two or three-day period, all of the people, all of the different organizations, and what they did, what they stood for, what they represented. So everything that I know about you guys is because of her, every little detail, and every little rumor going around Flagler County, she knows.”
“She continued her family history, her father was a judge in the old courthouse and she followed in his footsteps, and became Clerk of the Court, it’s awesome." GEORGE HANNS, former Flagler County Commissioner
Hutson said when he served in Tallahassee, and had four counties at one time, Wadsworth was the only clerk, that came to see him during every session.
“All they were concerned about was that they were getting the money and the legislation for this area, so they can do what they do.”
State Attorney J.R. Larizza met Wadsworth father, Judge Billy Wadsworth in 1977. Before he presented Wadsworth with a memento from his office, he talked about her father.
“I was in a small civil practice, and of course being the new guy, the first thing I would do is handle all the cases, the hearings and things before the judges,” Larizza said. “One of the first judges I had the honor to appear before was Judge Billy Wadsworth, and Judge Wadsworth was the kind of guy that was so good with young lawyers. He, after I’d finish giving what I thought was an excellent argument, just kind of leaned back and said, ‘Son, I think you might want the next time to argue it like this.’ OK, I lost the hearing, but what a great man, a great person, he really had a great effect on my life.”
The ceremony ended with what has to be one of the most unique retirement gifts ever – the new Clerk of Court Tom Bexley, appropriated the glass door from the Clerk’s office from the old courthouse that bore the Clerk of Court seal and name, and had it framed and signed by the staff.
