Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the lifetime accomplishments of my friend and the trailblazing Floridian, Mrs. Doretha Edgecomb. Her invaluable contribution to the Tampa Bay community is an inspiration to us all. Today, I am grateful to recognize her selfless dedication and honorable service to our community. Mrs. Edgecomb is a proud graduate of Middleton High School in Tampa, Florida and later Talladega College in Talladega, Alabama. She began her esteemed career as a junior high school English teacher with Hillsborough County Public Schools. She later earned a Masters of Arts degree in Reading Education and received certification in Educational Leadership from the University of South Florida. Her 52 year career as an educator encompasses numerous positions throughout the field of education, to include Reading Teacher, Learning Specialist, Title I Parent Involvement Coordinator, and Elementary Principal. In 1996, after retiring from the Hillsborough County School District, Mrs. Edgecomb joined Educational Testing Service, serving as a trainer, program developer, and technical assistance advisor for schools in the state departments of Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Additionally, she has taught in the College of Education at the University of South Florida. Mrs. Edgecomb was elected to the Hillsborough County School Board in 2004 and re-elected in 2008, where she served as Vice Chair in 2010 and Chair in 2011. She is actively involved in several professional, civil, and social, and community organizations. She represents the School Board on the Hillsborough County Children’s Board, serving her second term as Chair. She serves as a member of the Florida School Boards Association Board of Directors as a legislative liaison, board of directors for the Regional Educational Lab-Southeast, Florida State University, advisory committee of Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services, and the executive board of the Council of Great City Schools. Mrs. Edgecomb is a 55-year member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, Athena Society, Inc., where she is the President-Elect of the Robert Saunders Friends of the Library, and a faithful member of Hyde Park United Methodist Church. Mrs. Edgecomb shared a strong partnership with her distinguished late husband the Honorable Judge George E. Edgecomb. Judge Edgecomb an activist in his own right, blazed the trail for African-Americans in the Tampa Bay. He was the first African-American to serve as Assistant County Solicitor, Assistant State Attorney, and to be appointed as County Judge for Hillsborough County. They share one daughter, Allison who is an Administrator in Hillsborough County Public Schools. Mrs. Edgecomb has selflessly dedicated her life to our community and the children of the Tampa Bay. Countless students and young professionals have benefited from her immeasurable efforts and unabashed enthusiasm. Her commitment will always be remembered and appreciated. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of a grateful Tampa Bay community, I am proud to recognize Doretha W. Edgecomb for her lifelong exemplary service to the State of Florida.