2016 Distinguished Alumni of the Year
Faye Bowling-Warren
Faye Bowling-Warren has been named the 2016 Florida Gateway College Alumni of the Year.
Bowling-Warren graduated from what was then known as Lake City Community College in 1971 and then returned to class and received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Florida State in 1978. What makes her pursuit of a Bachelor’s impressive is the fact that she attended class for that program on the LCCC campus all at night, while holding a full time job with the City of Lake City.
In the late 70’s, FSU sent professors to the Lake City campus to conduct class at night. Those classes were attended mostly by adults with families. Bowling-Warren was working fulltime for the City of Lake City as Assistant City Manager, where she ultimately retired after 42 years of service.
She has fond memories of her time at the college. “A lot of the people in those classes became good friends. We all had families and we would help each other. It was always a friendly atmosphere. We had to do research using only books. There was no internet then”, said Bowling-Warren.
After graduating from FSU, Bowling-Warren continued her education and earned a certificate in public administration from FSU’s College of Social Science as well as a certificate in personnel management from the Florida Personnel Association. Receiving the Alumni of the Year designation came as a surprise to Bowling-Warren. But this isn’t the first time a member of her family has been designated with the honor. The college is a family tradition. Her daughter, Cindy O’Connell, was named Alumni of the Year in 2002. Cindy graduated from LCCC in 1976 and Bowling-Warren’s son, Marty, was a member of the Timberwolves basketball team in the 60’s.
Retirement hasn’t been all kick back and relax for Bowling-Warren She is still very active in civic groups. She has served with the Blue-Grey, the group that organizes the annual Battle of Olustee Festival in Lake City, since its inception 38 years ago. She was named Commanding General of the Blue-Grey Army in 1983 and has since been appointed Executive Director of the organization where she has served for several years.
If you want an active retirement life, try keeping up with this impressive list. Bowling-Warren has been a member of the Board at Lake City Medical Center, a member of the Board for Columbia County Senior Services where she was Chair for the building committee and capital campaign chair for the Lifestyle Enrichment Center, a longtime member of Altrusa of Lake City and a member of the Beautification Committee for the City of Lake City.
She has also been lauded for her civic work having been named Lake City Rotary Citizen of the Year in 1986, and, while still working in city government, was President of the Florida Airport Manager Association.
Bowling-Warren has advice for anyone who has been out of school for a long time and might be considering attending college today. “You’re the winner, it’s a satisfying feeling receiving that degree. I would encourage anyone to seek a higher education, and think what an opportunity we have in this community with Florida Gateway College here. It’s a great school”, said Bowling-Warren.
Stephen Tucker
The 2016 Florida Gateway College Distinguished Alumnus of the year is Mr. Stephen Tucker. 
Since graduating from Lake City Community College, now Florida Gateway College, in 1999, Stephen Tucker has seen his career soar, and his travels around the nation prove that. After graduation, Tucker began work at Boca del Mar Country Club in Boca Raton where he was equipment manager and was responsible for preventative maintenance for the 18 hole private golf club.
But bigger responsibilities came calling in 2001 when he was named equipment manager in Naples for the Olde Florida Golf Club and was supervisor of a staff of 24 employees. Like many other graduates of the local college’s turf equipment management program more opportunities opened. In 2002 Tucker secured a position at a Golf Digest Top 100 course in Georgia where he became equipment manager for Hawks Ridge Golf Club, a 27 hole private facility with a staff of 25 and was responsible for all facets of equipment management.
When your reputation as a pro gets around more jobs open up. That’s what happened for Tucker when he was appointed equipment manager for The Four Seasons Resort Dallas at Las Colinas in Irving, Texas in 2012.The 36 hole private club needed an experienced manager. Tucker was given the responsibility of all facets of equipment for the course which also included purchasing, budgeting, safety training and hiring.
Since 2014 Tucker has been the equipment manager in Orlando for The Four Seasons Resort at Tranquilo Golf Club. Here again Tucker is responsible for equipment management, purchasing, budgets, safety training and hiring employees. As part of his job, Tucker also travels to other Four Seasons golf properties as a consultant.
During his career Tucker established a detaild budget breakdown into projected spending on individual equipment, developed a new safety program for employees along with an equipment training program and certification. But Tucker also finds time for the community. He has helped coordinate charity events and has volunteered for 2 years at PGA events. In hs spare time when Tucker isn’t managing a staff at a golf course, he also likes to play the game.
Tucker is an accomplished golfer having played in qualifying events for the US Open, US Amateur and the Nike Tour.
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