January 26, 2010
Today’s Program Bail Bondsman
Al Estes
Al Estes was born in Toledo, Ohio, on Christmas Day in 1932, during the Depression. His dad died, his mother was poor, he lived in an orphanage until 1950, when he ran away and joined the Marines. On September 16, 1951, while he was about to jump into a foxhole in Korea, a sniper shot him in the left elbow
Estes is probably the king of the bondsmen. He could be a character out of a Tennessee Williams play, a gaudy Big Daddy with gold pinkie rings that contain diamonds in the middle, a gold watch, and a gold necklace. If he sees something material that suits his tastes, his first question might be "How much did it cost?" The stuffed blue marlin that hangs in the lobby is so big it overwhelms the room. Estes has the means to go deep-sea fishing any time, any place, anywhere. His office writes more than 5,000 bonds a year.
Al Estes, Sr. started writing bail in 1964 in St Petersburg, Tampa, and Clearwater, Florida. Mr. Estes is a former St. Petersburg Police officer, a shooting member of the Marine Corps Rifle Team for four years and was a U.S. Marine for eight years. While serving as a Marine, he fought in Korea from 1951-1952 and received a Purple Heart. Mr. Estes is the Past President of the Florida Surety Agents Association and currently runs Al Estes Bonding, Inc. with his two sons, A. Eric Estes and Albert A. Estes, Jr.
The Board of Directors of the Professional Bail Agents of the United States (PBUS) has successfully designated Al Estes Bonding, Inc., as a Nationally Board Certified Agency of PBUS, and PBUS gave congratulations to Al Estes, Sr., and the entire Agency for meeting the highest pinnacle of professional standards in the bail bond industry.
What’s Happening
Scholarship Letters
Bob Byelick received the following letter from Amanda P., a ninth grader at Dixie Hollins High School:
Dear Mr. Byelick,
Thank you for choosing me to be in this program. This summer I went to Cocoa Beach for 4-5 days. We went to the beach every day. I tried skim boarding for the first time, and I think I’m really good at it for a beginner. But most of the summer I stayed home and relaxed.
I have been playing basketball for the Junior Magics, and I’m thinking about playing on the school’s team. I want to be able to make lots of friends and be successful in my four years of high school. After high school I want to go to USF or UF and be in the medical field. I always dreamed about being a pediatrician or a veterinarian.
Thank you for taking your time to read my letter.
Sincerely, Amanda P.
YISE Guys
Pat Biscotti thanked all Kiwanians involved in painting the YWCA shelter at 429 – 6th Avenue South. He had special kudos for Scott Wagman, former owner of Scott Paint; and Tom Duquette of Home Depot, who each arranged for donations of 30 gallons of paint. Joyce Pritchett, head administrator of the YWCA, piled on with more thank yous and encouraged us to visit their facility.
As Pat pointed out, this was yet another event where we as Kiwanians made a difference in the community.
The Lithuanian Open
A Golf Tournament hosted by Al Karnavicus is scheduled for March 4 - 8. The tournament, now in its tenth year, is held at St. Petersburg Country Club and is an open invitational for all Kiwanians and other golfers. Al sees to it that proceeds are distributed to summer camps for rural children of Lithuania. Check the website at LTCONSULFLORIDA.com. Al also pointed out that 2010 marks the twentieth year of Lithuania’s independence and will be celebrated during the tournament
New Member
Thanks to Worth Blackwell for bringing us a new member, Bob Sherman. So “What About Bob?”
Robert Sherman is the Executive Director of St. Anthony’s Hospital Foundation, a position he has held since 2005. Prior to his current role he worked in human resources both at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa and St. Anthony’s Hospital. He is a graduate of St. Vincent de Paul Seminary in Boynton Beach, Florida and was ordained for ministry. After graduate studies, Bob worked at Castlerigg Manor Youth Centre in Keswick, England. Ministerial assignments included parishes in the Diocese of St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg Catholic High School and as Chancellor. Bob is adjunct professor of Applied Ethics at St. Petersburg College. Bob serves as a Director on the board of Bon Secours St. Petersburg; as Vice Chairman of the Board of Help Brings Hope to Haiti, Inc., Director on the board of the Science Center and is a member of the Community Advisory Board for the St. Petersburg Junior League. He is active in his church and teaches both in the adult and young people’s education programs. He is married to Pamela and they have four children: Abigail, Rachel, Andrew, and John.
Last Week at Kiwanis
Kiwanian of the Day, Al Karnavicus, introduced Ernest Hooper, staff columnist of the St. Petersburg Times. Ernest keyed his speech off the word “never” and had three tenets for us to ponder:
- Never back down from a challenge
- Never take your follow Kiwanians for granted
- Never under estimate the power of good deeds
Moving along, Ernest explained his transition as the Times beat writer for the Bucs into his
current role of columnist, writing three columns a week. An epiphany happened to Ernest several years ago during Super Bowl Week when his father died. The event led to a feeling that Ernest needed to be home more with his three children and coincidentally, the columnist position became available. He left the locker room aroma to land in Section B. He does miss the excitement of Game Day, but not all the daily beat grind.
Ernest’s columns always highlight his favorite bumper stickers he or his readers see and below are his favorites:
- I do what the voices in my wife’s head tell me
- Think outside of the box, go for cremation
- Save the Earth, the only planet with beer
- Tampa Bay, a sunny place for shady people
- I live with fear every day, and sometimes she lets me go out with my friends
Ernest, with a virtual carte blanc policy from his editor about topics, enjoys the latitude of a blank canvas and gathers ideas from his children, wife, and Facebook.
Ernest, asked about his trademark signoff, “That’s all I am saying”, said when he and some friends were debating a topic, Ernest summed up his argument with “That’s all I am saying”, and his friend said, “That’s it, end your columns with that”, and a tradition was born. And that’s all I am writing.
Guests and Visitors
We had 61 members and 9 guests: Nicolas Cerf, Frank Ji, and Jonathan Tanawan, St. Petersburg High Key Club; Joyce Pritchett, guest of Pat Biscotti; Tom Duquette, guest of Pat Biscotti; Ann Baker, wife of Biff Baker; Mike Sexton, guest of Biff Baker; Khalid O’Neal, son and guest of Ron O’Neal; Cori Cochran, daughter and guest of Mitch Cochran.
This Week’s Quiz
- Who invented the printing press?
- When did the Philippines gain their independence?
- Name the Mascot of the University of Miami.
- Who wrote the play “South Pacific”?
- Where did Starbucks Coffee originate?
Last Week’s Quiz
- Howard Cosell exclaimed “Down goes Frazier, Down goes Frazier”, “Down goes Frazier” when George Foreman knocked down on January 22, 1973, during the fight in Kingston, Jamaica.
- In the Three Stooges short feature “Half Shot Shooter”, Harry Moses Horwitz (Moe Howard), when Larry said “I think”, broke in and said “Every time you think, you weaken the nation”.
- The philosopher and founder of Taoism, Lao Tzu said, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step”.
- The American President who gave the shortest inauguration speech was George Washington at his second inauguration speech, and it was only 135 words long. William Henry Harrison gave the longest speech; it lasted one hour and forty-five minutes. President Harrison came down with pneumonia shortly there after and died.
- “What we have here is a failure to communicate.” is the famous quote from the movie “Cool Hand Luke” spoken by The Captain, portrayed by Strother Martin.
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