We wish to honor and acknowledge the following individuals for their work on behalf of our great organization, and say they will be sincerely missed, and always in our thoughts….

Joe Millsaps, Chairman, Broward Navy Days, Inc.

Joe Millsaps, Chairman of Broward Navy Days, passed away on May 30, 2010. He died while on a trip to watch the Indy 500. He was 70.

A long time Fort Lauderdale resident Joe was one of South Florida’s biggest champions of the U.S. Navy. Joe was one of the founders of Broward Navy Days back in the early 90′s, and had been responsible for putting on Fleet Week every year at Port Everglades.

He was chairman of Broward Navy Days for the past 15 years.

As chairman of Broward Navy Days, Joe was sometimes referred to as “Mr. Navy.” It was his love for the seagoing services that earned him this title. Broward Navy Days is known by everyone in the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard, and this is due to the special relationship that Joe developed with all members of the military.

“It’s a tremendous loss to this community,” Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler said. “He gave so much of his time, so much of his talents. He just kept giving back to the community and made South Florida a better place.”

He was a founder of the commerical real estate firm Rauch, Weaver , Millsaps & Co., now known as Rauch Weaver Norfleet Kurtz and Co. He stepped down as partner in 1999.

He was born in Knoxville, Tennessee and served in the U.S. Army as a commissioned Lieutenant in the infantry. He came down to Fort Lauderdale for Spring Break in the 60′s while he was a student at University of Tennessee, and loved Fort Lauderale so much that, once out of the military, he never left.

Sometimes referred to as “Mr. Fort Lauderdale,” this title derived from all of the Boards he served on in the area. Over the years, he was Chairman of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Broward Economic Council, Chairman of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Association of Realtors, Chariman of Winterfest, and a Trustee of Nova Southeastern University, as well as a committee member for the Orange Bowl.

Instead of flowers, the Millsaps family is asking that contributions be made to Broward Navy Days, in care of Garry Murphy, 5300 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308 (donations may also be made through the website by clicking on the “DONATE” button in the top left corner of the website under the banner).

George H. Baldwin, USNR (Ret.)

George’s widow, Loretta Baldwin, announced that a Navy Sea Cadet Scholarship Fund has been established in George’s name, and the family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to this fund. The fund will be named the CAPTAIN GEORGE H. BALDWIN, USNR-R Scholarship Fund.

Donations may be made payable as follows: Boca Delray Council NLUS, GHB Scholarship Fund and mailed to 23165 Via Stel, Boca Raton, FL 33433

Hugh H. “Bud” Kirkpatrick, Jr.

Kirkpatrick, Hugh H., Jr., 90, passed away on March 21, 2009 after suffering a stroke. Hugh, or “Bud” as so many liked to call him, was born in Philadelphia, PA, November 9, 1918. He attended Drexel Hill Institute of Technology where he studied Mechanical Engineering. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1940 and served in the European theater until the conclusion of the war. Hugh was decorated with the Legion of Merit for his development of aerial grid photography, essential for plotting accurate artillery fire. He also received five battle stars and proudly served in the D-Day campaign in Normandy. He retired with the rank of Major and went on to serve as a reserve officer until 1956. Hugh came to Ft. Lauderdale in 1955 where he pursued a lifelong career in the field of air conditioning and heating. He started Air Conditioning Associates in 1961 with two other partners. He was a member of the Board of Examiners for Broward County, Past Director of the Sales and Marketing Executives Association, Past President Gold Coast Chapter of the Mechanical Contractors Association of America, Past President of Ft. Lauderdale Beach Kiwanis and Past President of the Ft. Lauderdale Council & National Director of the Navy League of the United States. He also enjoyed his involvement with the United States Naval Sea Cadets. Hugh, predeceased by his wives, Patricia (1974) and Elizabeth (1989) is survived by his three sons, Hugh, Scott and John; daughters-in-law, Kathy, Andrea and Lucy; grandchildren: Katie Heise, Jennifer Lee, Emily Kirkpatrick, Brian Kirkpatrick, Jim Kirkpatrick, Caroline Kirkpatrick and great-grandchildren, Rachel and Caroline Heise. He will fondly be remembered for his passion for swimming, boating and all things military. Visitation-Friday, April 3rd, 6-8 PM at Fred Hunter’s, Ft. Lauderdale, Memorial Service April 4th at 2 PM at All Saints Episcopal Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Spruance Division Building Fund, U.S. Naval Sea Cadets, P.O. Box 21101, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33315